After a mediocre batting performance on Day 1, the Indian bowling unit just killed it on the second day. They piled up the entire South African team within 229 runs and the Blues are definitely back in the game now. If anything, Team India are now the favourites to win the second test and with it the entire 3-match series, thus creating history at Johannesburg.
Every Indian bowler was simply phenomenal today but the one who needs to be appreciated the most is undoubtedly Shardul Thakur. The pacer picked up 7 wickets in the second test which is his personal best in his test career and also the best performance by any bowler at Johannesburg in Test cricket which speaks volumes. He now also has the best bowling figures by an Indian against South Africa in Test cricket.
Shardul Thakur picked up all important wickets tonight which included South African captain Dean Elgar, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi. As we can observe, it’s quite a list !
Many Indian legends praised Shardul Thakur on social media after his 7-wicket haul.
Harbhajan Singh was one of the first ones to react. He tweeted, “Kyaaaaaa Baat hai thaaaakuuuurrrr @imshard well done.. So happy to see you performing like a champion.. 7wickets haul”
Sachin Tendulkar tweeted, “Congratulations to @imShard on picking up 7 wickets with his steady bowling and variations. Good support by the others.”