Shardul returned a handsome 7/61, her best bowling numbers in tests, as India grouped hosts for 229 on day two of the second test at the Johannesburg Wanderers.
It was with Lad that “Lord Shardul” or “Palghar Express”, as he is now affectionately known for his reputation as a partnership breaker, remained in Mumbai during his formative years.
Shardul Thakur picks up 7 wickets as South Africa left for 229 races. The second round of #TeamIndia is underway.⦠Https://t.co/Js9tdnzOLo
– BCCI (@BCCI) 1641305290000
One delighted boy told PTI on Tuesday: âI didn’t work specifically with him, but (I worked) on his mental toughness. I remember when he was taken in for the IPL, and he didn’t. did not play for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), he would be frustrated and say ‘they are not playing me’.
“I was telling him that everything was fine, they selected you and it is important that you train with bigger players.”
The 30-year-old made his Test debut against the West Indies in October 2018, but had to wait for his next chance for a considerable time.
Lad, who is also the childhood coach of India’s white ball captain Rohit Sharma, had only one piece of advice for Shardul after his national breakthrough: ‘Don’t do anything different’.
5 WKT run for @imShard ðð This is his first five wicket run in Test Cricket. Live – https://t.co/b3aaGXmBg9⦠https://t.co/jC1z8rmKYk
– BCCI (@BCCI) 1641299585000
âWhen he was (first) selected for the tour of the West Indies, at that point, I just told him not to do anything different. The way you’ve played the Ranji Trophy so far, the same way you have to bowling, he recalled.
âYou have now grown up (and) by that point you will be doing something different and it will affect your bowling. Better do the same things you grew up with and he continued to listen (advice) ârevealed Lad, one of the best coaches on the national circuit.
âThere wasn’t a specific discussion, he kept learning. About bowling, I told him to hit the batter, the more you put the batter on, the more likely you are to get wickets. Lad joked.
Shardul, besides being a race leader, is now a handy batsman, who can perform much-needed runs, as he showed Gabba last year against Australia and Lad recalled of the way he worked on his grip.
âI changed his high end grip and he took advantage of it. But he worked on it, he understood what I was saying and he worked on it. He was a hard hitter, but once he started playing with a straight bat he learned he could stay at the wicket and do anything, âLad recalls.
Shardul, who has now played in all three formats for India and is a regular member of the national team, is from Palghar, but it was at Lad’s insistence that he stayed in his Mumbai home. .
âWhen I saw him he played in a game against my school, after which I insisted that he (he stay with me) because traveling was a problem. I convinced my wife that Shardul would stay with me. we.
âOne thing I’m proud of is that I knew this kid would do wonders so I kept him in my house,â Lad said.
âIf I hadn’t made that decision then, maybe Shardul would have played there (in his hometown). My vision was that if this boy came to Mumbai he would play big cricket and since it was accomplished, I was delighted, “he said. noted.
Lad, the father of Siddhesh Lad, also a household name on the national circuit, said Shardul was talented and kept motivating him.
“Shardul justified his talent. If I hadn’t brought him to Mumbai, no one would have seen Shardul,” concluded the senior boy.