Shardul Thakur has taken the most number of wickets (52) in ODI cricket since the 2019 World Cup, the highest by an Indian bowler.
Aakash Chopra, the former India opener, believes that there is an available spot for a fourth seamer in India’s World Cup squad. He suggests that Shardul Thakur might have secured that spot for himself after an impressive performance during the tour of the Caribbean. Thakur showcased his all-round abilities in the three-match ODI series, making a strong case for his inclusion in the 50-over World Cup scheduled for October-November.
During the series, Shardul Thakur stood out as the highest wicket-taker, taking a total of eight wickets. His ability to take wickets even when the opposition is building partnerships could be crucial for India in the middle overs. This skill could prove to be advantageous as India prepares to host the 50-over World Cup exclusively for the first time.
Aakash Chopra further expressed his opinion that Shardul Thakur has surpassed Umran Malik in the race for the fourth seamer spot in the World Cup squad. Thakur’s standout performances have seemingly given him an edge over other contenders for that position.
“You need to praise Lord Thakur a lot. Lord Thakur has picked up the most wickets for India in ODIs since the 2019 World Cup. The good thing is that there is a place vacant for the World Cup. The question was who can be the fourth fast bowler after (Jasprit) Bumrah, (Mohammad) Shami, and (Mohammed) Siraj,” Akash Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“It seems like Lord Thakur has become the answer to that question currently. Umran Malik has fallen behind in that list suddenly, although he might do well in the T20s and we start talking about him, but for now, it seems like Lord Thakur’s World Cup looks almost confirmed.” he further added.
India won the Third ODI against West Indies by 200 runs
In the crucial third ODI against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Stadium, India put themselves in a commanding position by setting a formidable total of 351 runs on the scoreboard. The bowlers then came to the party, with Mukesh Kumar making early breakthroughs by dismissing the top three West Indies batters.
Shardul Thakur followed suit, taking an impressive four wickets while conceding only 37 runs in his 6.3 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav also contributed to the team’s success by claiming a couple of wickets, and Jaydev Unadkat, making a comeback to the ODI side after nearly a decade, managed to pick up one wicket. The Indian bowlers combined their efforts effectively, resulting in the West Indies being bundled out for just 151 runs.
As a result, India secured a resounding victory by a massive margin of 200 runs, clinching the series 2-1. Their dominant performance in both batting and bowling demonstrated their strength as a team and provided a memorable end to the ODI series against the West Indies.
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