WTC Final | Twitter hails Lord Shardul Thakur as his golden arm gets better of colossal Steve Smith

06/08/2023

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Only a few individuals can do wonders day in and day out on the field, and when one makes the chart of them, Shadrul Thakur sits on the very top half of it. The 31-year-old did it again as his first ball of the day dismissed Steve Smith, who was in impeccable touch until he lost his wicket.

In some way or another, Shardul Thakur has the habit of taking wickets when India desperately need them in crunch contests. The right-arm quick showed his skillset yet again on Thursday during the final of the World Test Championship at The Oval, where Rohit Sharma’s India are taking on Pat Cummins-led Australia. While Travis Head’s flamboyant 174-ball 163 kept Australia on the front foot, Steve Smith’s 31st Test hundred – his seventh in England – helped Australia to reach a position from where there was little chance of an outright defeat for his side.

However, Smith was finally beaten, and guess who got his wicket – Shardul Thakur. Coming to bowl for the first time on Day 2, Thakur bowled a good length outswinger clocked at 131 kph which was going outside the off stump. There was no need to play the delivery, but Smith was in double mind to tackle it. Hence, Smith unwillingly and casually poked at the ball, resulting in finding a fat inside edge. The ball went on to his stumps, and in the process, the ace batter fell after scoring 121 runs off 268 balls.

While Smith could not believe how he lost his wicket, Shardul, once again, received high praise from all across the world. The netizens lauded him from left, right, and center and went on to appreciate him for justifying the Lord tag.

Lord Shardul is back with a bang!

pic.twitter.com/IlreX8H32g
— Spider Rashid (@RashidSpider) June 8, 2023

Sardul came like a king!

#INDvsAUS ये हाथ ✊मुझे दे दे ठाकुर🤘😍 . Shardul Thakur bold settled Smith. pic.twitter.com/YFI9ERxXQc
— Concise (@I_krishd) June 8, 2023

Big big fish!

The most important wicket of the game in most crucial time !

Lord Shardul Thakur gets Smith 🔥#WTCFinal
— 𝑺𝒖𝒓𝒖𝒑𝑹𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒚 (@SurupReddyYSRCP) June 8, 2023

Wow!

Lord Shardul Thakur taken Steve Smith wicket after his 31st Test century at world test championship 🏆#WTC23Final #INDvAUS #WTCFinal2023 #WTC2023Final pic.twitter.com/11BimH79ep
— Sunita Chacko (@ChackoSunita) June 8, 2023

Great one by the Lord!

Well dun Shardul thakur bhai good wicket of steve smith.
— S TIRUMALAHARI (@STirumalahari) June 8, 2023

Hope we get one more here!

The last time Shardul Thakur dismissed Steven Smith, India won. #BelieveInBlue #WTC2023Final #INDvsAUS pic.twitter.com/phlq7TjpIA
— Mohammed Sheriff AHS (@mohammedsheriff) June 8, 2023

He has seerate fan base!