"What I did in Brisbane is probably the highlight of my career" - Shardul Thakur opens up on 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy heroics
Team India pacer Shardul Thakur picked the Gabba Test of the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the highlight of his career with the next edition only a month away. The 33-year-old was drafted into India's playing XI for the final Test in 2021 as the side dealt with several injuries to key players.
With the series tied at one apiece, Thakur produced an incredible all-round performance to help India pull off one of their most memorable Test and series wins. He picked up three and four wickets in the two innings to restrict Australia to scores of 369 and 294.
Thakur also scored a game-changing 67 off 115 deliveries in the first innings with India reeling at 186/6 to take them within striking distance of the Aussie total.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Thakur recalled the famous Test match and spoke about his wish to make the squad for the upcoming tour.
"What I did in Brisbane is probably the highlight of my career, contributing when it mattered the most. We are going to Australia again, the team is not announced, but I am hoping to see my name on the list. Mentally, even in these Ranji games, I am preparing for Australia also," he said.
"Honestly, I badly want to go to Australia, I want to do something there. A lot of the international teams have failed to win back-to-back series there but this team could be the one to win three-in-a-row, so I want to be part of it," Thakur added.
Thakur last played for India in the first Test of their tour of South Africa at the end of last year which ended in an innings defeat. He endured a forgettable outing with figures of 1/101 in 19 overs.
Meanwhile, the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, consisting of five Tests, begins in Perth on November 22.
"I have a gut feeling you will make some difference on the tour" - Shardul Thakur recalls Ravi Shastri's words during the 2020-21 Australian tour
Shardul Thakur recalled head coach Ravi Shastri motivating him during the 2020-21 tour even as he was selected only for the white-ball games before the four-match Test series.
The bowling all-rounder played a lone ODI and the two T20Is that preceded the Test matches before being forced into the XI for the final Test at Brisbane.
"I remember that series right from the conversation I had with (coach) Ravi Shastri in the flight. I was (only) part of the ODI squad, but played all three formats and ended up playing the last Test also. The coach had a feeling – he randomly called me in the flight and said, 'Shardul, you are part of the ODI team but I am telling you, you are not leaving Australia, you are staying till the last day and I have a gut feeling you will make some difference on the tour,'" Thakur said in the same interview..
He felt the upcoming series will be highly competitive as India looks to complete a hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia.
"We have the last two series wins in Australia; they know they can’t underestimate this Indian team. Also, this Indian team is going to be full of surprises. In 2018-19, we saw different individuals stepping up in different games, the same in the last series. Cricket will be played hard. It will be a tough series for both the teams," concluded Thakur.
India have beaten Australia in the last four bilateral Test series, including two in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Meanwhile, Thakur is currently playing for Mumbai in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy.