Former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim reckons that Shardul Thakur has all the tools and ingredients to deliver the goods with the bat as well. Shardul Thakur has been one of the important bowling weapons for Team India ever since the ICC ODI World Cup 2019 and is the only Indian bowler to take 50 wickets since the previous ODI World Cup. 

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur has showcased his wicket-taking abilities so far in the ODIs he has played for India. Having played 38 ODIs so far, he accounted for 58 dismissals at a bowling average of 29.2 and maintained a superb economy of 6.16 including 3 four-wicket hauls.

On the other hand, he scored 315 runs with the bat including one fifty. He scored 305 runs in Tests including 4 half-centuries. Most of the time, he played the game with a lot of intent, smacking a flurry of fours and sixes. Saba Karim reckons Shardul Thakur has enough capabilities to deliver with the bat as well.

Saba Karim reserves the highest respect for Shardul Thakur

"He somehow manages to slip under the radar. Maybe the opponents don't think highly of him but the Indian team management and the Indian selectors, have full faith in him, which is so good because, time and again, he has proved his worth," Saba Karim added.

"In white-ball cricket, he has done more so with the ball, but I think he has enough capabilities to deliver at the right time with the willow also," Saba Karim spoke highly of Shardul Thakur while speaking to JioCinema after India won the ODI series 2-1. 

Shardul Thakur bowled exceptionally well throughout the series, taking eight wickets to his credit, the most by any bowler in the series. He might have taken just 1 wicket in the first ODI but turned up the ante in the second and third ODI respectively. Thakur took 3 wickets in the second ODI before taking 4 wickets in the third ODI.

Even former Indian batsman Abhishek Nayar, who has worked with Shardul at Kolkata Knight Riders spoke highly of Thakur, stating that the all-rounder has proved that he is more than just a medium-fast bowler with a golden arm as he has showcased his wicket-taking abilities.

"I think we have seen stats in the past year, he is the highest wicket-taker in ODIs. That tells you it’s not about picking one or two wickets here and there, he has picked up more than that. In this series, he has a 4-wicket haul and a 3-wicket haul. We all know him for his intelligence, we all know him for his golden arm but he has proved he is much more than that. He is someone who can impact the game and he has done that very well in this series," Nayar said.