'Everything is about confidence and self-belief for me' - Shardul Thakur on his success mantra after stellar Johannesburg show

Shardul Thakur turned out to be the man with the golden arm for India recently as he has continued his prowess of breaking partnerships from last year in Australia. Picked as an all-rounder in the playing XI, Shardul was seen as the fourth bowling option but he proved to be more than that with his first five-wicket haul in Tests. His knack of stepping up when the team feels a bit low has already been a hallmark of his game.

Thakur finished with figures of 7 wickets for 71 runs which is the best by an Asian bowler in South African conditions. He managed to restrict South Africa’s lead to just 27 runs in the first innings and has definitely got India in a better place. In a video posted by BCCI, Thakur had a chat with his fast bowling coach Paras Mhambrey in which he explained his success formula.

There was natural help from the pitch: Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur has always been a person who backs himself even when the odds are against it, and it was evident with his displays. He has got rid of the English captain Joe Root more than twice in the tour to England, and that shows the level of confidence he has been bowling with.

“When I enter the ground, everything is about confidence and self-belief for me. I go in with full confidence, there is no second measure. It’s simple and a small mantra for my success in recent days, and I would like to continue the same form whenever I play. I have always played to win, and even when I look at other players, I like the players who love to win the game for the team,”  said Shardul Thakur in the video posted by BCCI.

Shardul mentioned the pitch assisting him and his wickets of Rassie Van der Dussen and Keegan Petersen were perfect examples of it which showed immense deviation. He might have to continue his good work in the second innings as well with Mohammad Siraj carrying his hamstring niggle.

“I was just trying to pitch the ball in the right spot, looking at my bowling there was natural help from the pitch so, I tried a little bit of swing here and there. And rest, I got seven wickets and I am very happy about it. A wonderful performance and happy to have contributed to the team,” Thakur added in the video.