After the top order batsmen of the Indian cricket team flopped, bowler Shardul Thakur played a stormy innings. While making big shots as soon as he came, this player spoiled the line length of the England bowlers. Shardul changed the air of the match by scoring a half-century in just 31 balls. He was dismissed after scoring 57 but with this one innings he saved the Indian team from being reduced to an embarrassing score. With this, Shardul overtook Virender Sehwag to score the fastest half-century in Tests.
Against India in the Oval Test, England captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bowl first. The team’s top order batsmen again proved to be a flop and only half the team returned on 105 runs. Captain Virat Kohli scored 50 runs but after his dismissal, the team was once again in trouble. India’s seventh wicket fell in the form of Rishabh Pant at the score of 127 runs. Shardul, who was included in the team in place of Mohammed Shami, stepped on the field. On arrival, this player showed an aggressive game and took India close to 200 runs.
Shardul’s stormy half-century
In the first innings of the fourth test match against England, Shardul completed fifty runs in just 31 balls with the help of 6 fours and 3 sixes. Shardul took India’s score from 127 to 190 runs. He along with Umesh Yadav added 66 runs for the eighth wicket. During this, he also broke former explosive opener Virender Sehwag’s record of fastest fifty in Tests scored off 32 balls.