Every aspiring cricketer thinks of making big in the game and don the Indian jersey whenever he gets the chance to represent their nation. One such player is Shardul Thakur who came to the scene after having a good season of Indian Premier League (IPL) with Rising Pune Supergiants.
The 28-year-old cricketer has expressed gratitude towards Dhoni and former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming for taking him into the team and giving him a chance to prove himself that changed his game for good.
Thakur noted that his transfer to RPS from King’s XI Punjab in 2017 was a turning point for his professional career. He further stated that he was not accustomed to white-ball cricket before he made his debut for the Dhoni-led team. Dhoni and Fleming gave him the confidence to express himself.
“In 2017 IPL, when I was transferred from Kings XI to RPS, that was an important break for me. Before that, I had not played much with the white ball,” Thakur said.
The cricketer from Palghar also revealed that he was really happy when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) picked him up and gave chances to play the world’s biggest T20 league. It was quite a relief for him because he knew the mindset of the former Indian skipper and Fleming.
“When in the 2018 auction I went to CSK, I was very happy because we had the same support staff, Dhoni bhai was also around. I knew how our coach Stephen Fleming works, how Mahi bhai works. When you establish a rapport, it gets easier for the player,” added Thakur.
The bowler took 16 wickets for CSK in the 2018 edition while he garnered 8 scalps last year.
He would have a good chance of proving himself in the international circuit as he is a part of the upcoming series against Sri Lanka and Australia. With Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar sidelined with injuries, Thakur would be hoping to leave a long-lasting impression on the selectors with an amazing performance.
The second T20 International between India and Sri Lanka will take place in Indore, later today. On the other hand, the series against Australia will commence on January 14.
