According to Shardul Thakur, he has no injury worries and is just not bowling for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2023 season because the team has too many all-rounders.
“We have a side full of all-rounders with Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, and we have a maximum of eight bowling options, including Nitish [Rana], who also bowls an over or two these days,” Thakur told PTI the day after KKR’s last-ball victory over Punjab Kings. Thakur missed three games this season due to an injury.
He has taken four wickets in just 14.5 overs in six bowling innings, for an economy rate of 10.78. Thakur was not one of the seven bowlers that KKR utilized in the game against the Kings.
It also depends on the game’s circumstances; whether the captain decides to bowl me or not is entirely up to him, according to Thakur. In terms of team strategy and decision-making, I wouldn’t give it any thought.
“I had a minor ache, so I missed a few games. When I returned, I wasn’t bowling-fit, so I didn’t bowl. However, I have resumed bowling and am hopeful that I will succeed whenever I get the ball.
In the India team for the World T20 final, which will be played at the Oval versus Australia starting on June 7, Thakur is one of five fast bowling possibilities. The starting lineup includes Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jaydev Unadkat, and Umesh Yadav, while Mukesh Kumar is a member of the backup group. As a result, Thakur, 31, has a lot of work to do to maintain his physical fitness.
It is challenging and not simple. When you go to practice, you basically have to do everything—fielding practice, bowling practice, and bat practice,” he remarked. “On top of that, you need to run around occasionally to stay in shape.
Overall, it’s difficult, but managing your body to stay in shape and continue playing is the problem in modern cricket.
Shardul Thakur “I’m ready to bat at any position in T20s.”
In the IPL, Thakur has been more helpful to KKR’s cause with the bat, totaling 109 runs from 61 balls at a strike rate of 178.68. The 29-ball 68 he scored at Eden Gardens against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening game of the competition helped these numbers.
Every chance I have, I always want to contribute with the bat, he remarked. “Obviously, I have fewer successes and failures. However, that is wholly inherent in the game.There is no favourite [batting] number; I’m willing to bat anytime the team asks me to. In a game like T20, I’m actually willing to bat everywhere.
“I played with padding in many games, so they could have sent me anywhere,” the player said. In fact, I had prepared to play the Punjab Kings at No. 3 by padding up. The T20 game requires that you be prepared at all times, regardless of your position.
“In general, I’m having fun at KKR. We develop several concepts and tactics to use both against the team and against certain hitters. However, everything hinges on how bowlers are using their abilities in the middle.