Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur showered praise on Gurnoor Brar after India registered a four-run win (DLS method) in the second ODI against New Zealand at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on Saturday.
The lanky pacer returned with impressive figures of 4-30 in his quota of 10 overs as he played a key role in skittling out New Zealand at 134 in a 47-over match. Brar accounted for Tom Latham, Glenn Phillips, Nathan Smith and Mitchell Santner. These are Brar’s career-best bowling figures in the ODI format and he was awarded Player of the Match.
Brar had also scalped three wickets in the series opener at Eden Park, Auckland. Thakur said Brar was unlucky not to complete his maiden five-wicket haul.
“We had definitely gotten two wickets when he came to bowl, but it seemed like Tom Latham would get set and look to play a big knock. However, he dismissed Tom Latham. Then he got Glenn Phillips out and dismissed a set Mitchell Santner when he returned to the attack. His bowling was absolutely perfect,” Shardul Thakur said on Sony Sports.
“He kept hitting the back of a length and good length, and along with that, he used the bouncer extremely well, which is his strength. He is tall, has pace, and gets bounce naturally. His bouncers weren’t too short either. So the batters remain slightly tentative. He knows his strength. I believe he was unlucky not to get five wickets. It was a spell where he could have definitely taken five wickets,” he added.
On the other hand, former Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane said a player gets different confidence when he receives backing from the team management.
“He impressed a lot. He kept repeating the same length. He didn’t try much. He kept bowling at his strength. For any player, when the team management backs you, your confidence becomes different,” he said.
“When you bowl in India, it’s very difficult for you. The wicket is extremely flat. You look for an opportunity to bowl in favorable conditions. These are the right conditions for our fast bowlers,” Rahane observed.
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on Tuesday.
