For Shardul Thakur, whites at the end of the tunnel

He was picked for the Mumbai junior side and later picked for the Ranji team few years ago. However, in 2013, few months after a nightmarish debut Ranji season where his weight was discussed more than his bowling, he began his turnaround story. He was 83 kgs then, and even Sachin Tendulkar had told him that he had to shed a few kilos if he was serious about cricket.

“Life has not been easy, nothing comes without a hardwork. I think all those early morning 3:30 am journey to come to Mumbai and than travelling back home has been paid off. Losing 13 kilograms. All have paid off. I always expected to get a call because the way past two season have went for me but getting into the Indian team is easy it will be tough to remain there for long,” Thakur stated.

However, by January this year, Thakur was going through a period which many bowlers have gone through before. He was upset about being ignored by selectors and he was hoping that at least he will board the flight to Australia.

But the selection committee had picked young Barinder Sran. Thakur was disheartened but it was Tendulkar, who put hand on his shoulder when chips were down. The legendary batsman had conducted few sessions with Mumbai Ranji Trophy team and he called Thakur for a long session at the suburban BKC ground.

“I was upset that despite doing so well I was not picked. He (Tendulkar) came and told me not to worry. Good you are not going to Australia, waise bhi there are plenty of Tests series to come. Just keep your focus and continue the hardwork, things will fall in place soon,” Thakur recalls Tendulkar telling him then.

Month of despair

He waged on but had to be content warming the bench in IPL for Kings XI Punjab in the dug-out. Later he was sent home in middle of the IPL season and he was left a frustrated man. The bitterness wasn’t about returning home early but about the fact that he wasn’t even given a chance to prove his worth.

He even tweeted in anger on May 6. “Will play a semifinal t20 game tomorrow for my club payyade sc,.. playing a game after 2 months… ipl has done wonders.. Certainly.”

He later deleted his tweet but the month of despair has also provided him with the most joyous news of his career with the India selection.Those who have seen him bowl in the last couple of years in domestic cricket won’t be surprised with the latest development. He isn’t express pace, operates around the 135 kmph, but impresses with his “heavy ball” and his ability to move the ball in air and off the track. He has always had the outswinger but has now developed the skill to move the ball into the right-handers as well.

He says he learnt the importance of targeting the off stump after couple of weeks spent with Glenn McGrath at the MRF Pace Foundation last year. However, it was in domestic cricket, and in particular playing alongside Zaheer Khan, that he started to really develop as a bowler.

Zaheer taught him about the different demands that each session of play requires of a fast bowler and taught him other little tricks of changes in pace, and how to use the bouncer more judiciously.

Thakur now wants to look ahead. By the time the conversation comes to an end, he has reached his coach Dinesh Lad’s home in Borivali. This time the train journey back home will be of different hue — one filled with joy and about a dreamy future.