Shardul Thakur had a phenomenal performance on the second day of the Test series between South Africa and India, at Johannesberg. While India initially seemed to be struggling against the hosts, it was Thakur’s deliveries that gave the team a chance to stage a comeback. 

‘Lord’ Shardul Thakur got his first five-wicket haul, bundling Kyle Verreynne, with a sharp leg before wicket (LBW). 

He also proceeded to dismiss Temba Bavuma, who was caught with a delivery down the leg side. India was facing some troubles due to the partnership cemented between Keegan Petersen and Dean Elgar. The former scored a half-century and between the two of them, they racked up 74 runs, until Thakur sent them both packing. 

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Showing no signs of easing up, Thakur took Rassie van der Dussen’s wicket too. He got him on the inside edge of the thigh, as the ball went behind the wicket. 

His sixth wicket was Marco Jansen’s. Thakur’s delivery was struck by Jansen, but Ashwin managed to catch him out. Before sending Jansen back from the pitch, Thakur also delivered an aggressive ball, which struck Jansen in the chest, causing some pain for the batsman. 

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Meanwhile, the final batsman, Lungi Ngidi, was sent home by Thakur too. His ball to Ngidi was caught by Rishabh Pant behind the wicket. 

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Overall, Thakur has had a spectacular statistic at the end of India’s bowling. He took 7 wickets while conceding 61 runs, which is the finest performance by an Indian bowler in South Africa. 

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In the process, Thakur has also broken a slew of records, including achieving his personal best of a seven-wicket haul. Before his trailblazing bowling in South Africa today, Javagal Srinath held the top record for Indian fast bowlers there. He had taken six wickets while conceding 76 runs in November 2001, at Port Elizabeth.