NEWS
Follow UsKolkata Knight Riders have too many all-rounders in their set-up and Shardul Thakur feels that’s why he hasn’t bowled a lot in the ongoing Indian Premier League. The fast-bowling all-rounder missed three games due to a niggle but is now back in the XI.
In eight games so far this season, Thakur has bowled only 14.5 overs, taking four wickets at an economy of 10.78. In the last game against Punjab Kings, KKR skipper Nitish Rana used seven bowlers but Thakur wasn’t one of them.
"We have a side full of allrounders with (Andre) Russell, Sunil (Narine)... we have got maximum of eight bowling options that also includes Nitish, who also bowls an over or two nowadays," Thakur told PTI.
"It also depends on the situation of the game, if the captain feels the need to bowl me or not bowl me completely depends on him. As far as team's strategy, decision-making is concerned, I would not pay attention to it a lot.
"I had a small niggle, so I didn't play a few games, when I came back, I didn't bowl as I was not bowling-fit. But yes, now I'm back to bowling and hopefully whenever I get the ball, I will get the job done."
Thakur is also part of the Indian squad for the World Test Championship final against Australia and could even feature in the XI if the team management wants a bit more batting down the order.
Talking about how he keeps himself fit, Thakur said: “It is difficult and not easy. It's difficult in the sense body-wise, because when you go in for practice, you literally have to do everything - fielding practice, bowl and bat.
“On top of that, you have to do a bit of running around to stay fit. Overall, it's not easy but yeah that's the challenge in modern day's cricket that you have to manage your body to stay fit and keep going."
Thakur hasn’t done much with the ball this season but has already won Kolkata a game with the bat. Against Bangalore, the right-hander smashed 68 off 29 batting at No. 7 and got Kolkata past 200 after being reduced to 89/5.
"I always try to contribute with the bat whenever I get an opportunity. Obviously, I succeed and fail on fewer occasions. But that's completely part and parcel of the game,” said Thakur.
"There is no preferred (batting) number, whenever the team asks me to bat, I'm ready to do it. In fact, in a game like T20, I'm ready to bat at any position.
"I padded up in a lot of games and they could have sent me at any position. In fact, I had padded up to go at No. 3 against Punjab Kings. The T20 game is such that you need to be ready at any given position.
"Overall, I'm enjoying my time at KKR. We come up with different ideas and strategies against the team, against individual batters. But it all depends how bowlers are executing their skills in the middle."
