Shardul Thakur has had a stop-start international career, but is determined to cement a spot in India's first-choice XI for this month's T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Thakur has been named in a strong squad for the three T20Is and might partner Jasprit Bumrah in the seam attack while the spinners and Navdeep Saini bowl the remainder of the overs. Unibet have priced Thakur at 5.00 to be the top wicket-taker in the first match, which will be played in Guwahati on Sunday. Bumrah is offered at 3.50 and Saini 5.00
“I was part of the team before, somehow I couldn't fit into the playing XI,” Thakur told the Indian Express. He has played one Test, seven ODIs and seven T20s for India since debuting in 2017.
“I played a game in South Africa, later played two games in Sri Lanka. In the Asia Cup I played one game. I have got breaks between games. The positive thing is that I was part of the winning cause. Hopefully, I will get more chances in future. I want to keep going for my country.”
India vs Sri Lanka top tips – highest wicket-taker
| Bowler |
Odds |
| Jasprit Bumrah |
3.50 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal |
4.34 |
| Kuldeep Yadav |
4.50 |
| Navdeep Saini |
5.00 |
| Shardul Thakur |
5.00 |
With several senior seamers such as Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar not picked for this series against Sri Lanka, Thakur wants to impress. He has done so for the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League in the past.
“If other senior bowlers are missing from the team, then I have to step up. I have done this previously for other teams that I have played for. I have come in place of Zaheer Khan, Dhawal Kulkarni and Ajit Agarkar while playing for Mumbai. I had to step up in that role. When senior bowlers are rested, I have to step up and fill that role to lead the pace attack,” he added.
He has since left Mumbai and will play for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020. Chennai have done well to retain a core of players, including South African trio Faf du Plessis, Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir, around a handful of fresh faces. Chennai have won the IPL three times and lost five finals. Unibet have priced Chennai at 5.50 to win IPL 2020.
Latest IPL 2020 Odds
| IPL Team |
Winner Odds |
| Mumbai Indians |
5.0 |
| Hyderabad Sunrisers |
5.0 |
| Chennai Super Kings |
5.5 |
| Delhi Captials |
7.0 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders |
8.0 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore |
8.0 |
| Rajasthan Royals |
10.0 |
| Kings XI Punjab |
11.0 |
