South Africa looked in a comfortable position as the lunch was nearing on the 2nd day’s play at The Wanderers in Johannesburg. The hosts were 88-1 with skipper Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen playing watchfully to counter the Indian bowling attack but skipper Rahul introduced Shardul Thakur just half an hour before the lunch which changed the complexion of the South African innings.
Shardul has developed a habit of breaking partnerships in the past and he is rightly called the man with a “golden arm” and he proved it right by picking the wicket of Elgar(28) to give some hope to the visitors. He didn’t stop here as he later dismissed Rassie van der Dussen(1) and set batsman Peterson(62) to win the session for India and put the visitors in a convincing position at lunch of day 2.
Thakur was nicknamed “Lord” as he chipped in with some stellar showing that changed the complexion of the game. On the tour to Australia last year, Shardul took the wicket of Steve Smith, who had hit two consecutive centuries. He also chipped with some heroics with the bat and fans hailed him as “Lord” on the social media. The heroics continued in England as he continue to be India’s premier all-rounder in the longest format of the game.
As Thakur picked three wickets before the lunch on day 2, twitter was all hail for “The Lord”. Here are the best reactions-
South African batsmen to Lord Shardul Thakur: pic.twitter.com/N3rlupNnA7
— Abhishek Tripathi (@abhithecomic) January 4, 2022
3rd wicket!!
I’m saying it again and again, it’s Lord Shardul’s Era and we all are just living in it ? pic.twitter.com/cp1sYcUVCt
— Shivani Shukla (@iShivani_Shukla) January 4, 2022
Need to break a partnership call lord shardul Thakur. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/keK7Rg9G9l
— I am vral 8 (@am_vral) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul to Batsman’s when he comes to bowl:- pic.twitter.com/2FyAQdWFZ0
— ASmemesss (@asmemesss) January 4, 2022
Bumrah , Shami , Siraj , Ashwin try to take wickets .
Meanwhile Lord Shardul Who destroy South Africa Top Order in just 5 overs. With 44 over old ball pic.twitter.com/bpPOnY0fwo
— Suchet samudre ?? (@SuchetSamudre) January 4, 2022
Lord shardul. If you want to break good partnership of opponent team, then call Lord shardul thakur#INDvsSA #SAvsIND pic.twitter.com/asMIdmwcyE
— Devendra Gaykwad (@DevendraGaykwa6) January 4, 2022
SA batsmen in front of Bumrah,Shami,Ashwin,Siraj vs
In front of Lord Shardul #INDvsSA#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/eLg8JrtJEN— Rishabh shah (@Pun_Intended___) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul Thakur: “I don’t find wickets, wickets find me” pic.twitter.com/kMSLgVZgDM
— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) January 4, 2022
We believe in Lord Shardul Thakur supremacy ?#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/hp9BeTBKNx
— Abhishek (@be_mewadi) January 4, 2022
“I played in a different era so that I wouldn’t have to face Lord Shardul Thakur” – Ricky Ponting pic.twitter.com/kdyWamgqwI
— Hemant (@Sportscasmm) January 4, 2022
Lord Shardul and team India believe in fair play. That’s why Lord never bowls to new batsmen, he’s only brought on once there is a partnership and the batsmen are set. Lord still gets them out though ? #SAvIND
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 4, 2022
