Shardul Thakur Shares Insights on Challenges of Test Cricket in South Africa
As Team India prepares for a two-match Test series against South Africa, bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur has opened up about the unique challenges posed by playing Test cricket in the challenging conditions of the Proteas.
Speaking on the official YouTube channel of teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul acknowledged the difficulty of predicting the pitch conditions in South Africa. He stated, “South Africa is one of the most difficult countries to play Test cricket in. Even if we play all over the country, this is one country where you can’t expect what you will get from the pitch. It’s very important to go out there, play the game, and on the game day, judge the conditions of the pitch and the ground. Put yourself in a position to give your best according to that.”
The 32-year-old also emphasized the need to acclimatize to South Africa’s weather, particularly the altitude, in order to ensure optimal performance on the field. “Right now, I am just getting acclimatized to the weather, and I also learned that this is a little high in altitude. So, on the day when you shouldn’t be short of breath when you’re doing some running around or bowling, it’s very important to get the feel,” he added.
Shardul highlighted the challenges of maintaining physical endurance in South Africa’s conditions, emphasizing the importance of managing breath and stamina during key moments of the game.
The two-match Test series between India and South Africa is set to commence on December 26 at Centurion and will conclude on January 7 in Cape Town. As Team India prepares to face the unpredictable South African pitches, players like Shardul Thakur are gearing up for the dynamic conditions, emphasizing adaptability and resilience in their approach.
India’s squad for the Tests includes Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (Wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, and KS Bharat (Wk).
(With inputs from ANI)
India’s bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur has shared insights on the challenges of playing Test cricket in South Africa. Thakur acknowledged the difficulty of predicting pitch conditions in the country, emphasizing the need to adapt and judge conditions on the game day. He also highlighted the importance of acclimatizing to South Africa’s weather and altitude to ensure optimal performance. Thakur emphasized the challenges of maintaining physical endurance in South Africa’s conditions and the importance of managing breath and stamina during key moments of the game. The two-match Test series between India and South Africa is set to commence on December 26. Players like Shardul Thakur are preparing for the dynamic conditions and focusing on adaptability and resilience.
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