Shardul Thakur - Ajit Agarkar of 2020s?

[jalebi_bhai]

A lot of similarities between the two:

Mumbaikar

Underrated wicket-taker

High economy rate

Useful lower order batsman

 

I'd say Agarkar was a far superior fielder though. Besides that, they're very similar cricketers. Discuss.

[Ajju]

Dont know why so much hatred on this guy in the forum

[zen]

SImilar ... I recall writing that on Axar v Jadeja v Tewatia v Krunal thread too 

 

As mentioned in the OP, Agarkar is the better fielder ... Tempted to put Agarkar a bit ahead as a batsman too as right now there is not much work done on Thakur by the bowlers 

Edited March 23, 2021 by zen

[jalebi_bhai]

22 minutes ago, Cricspin said:

 

You are right about some similarity between them.

 

Someone mentioned this in the match thread and then another guy called Agarkar a one match wonder (while saying that Thakur has played well repeatedly). It was serious W.T.$ moment for me as Thakur has played only 2 tests and 12 ODI's.

 

Agarkar was lean and moved across the field fast.  

 

They both bowl similar speeds though I think Agarkar may be a bit faster and more skiddy. Agarkar could not use his batting potential. I definitely think Agarkar is an underachiever.  

 

Agarkar had an economy rate of 5 which is probably higher in those days but looks so less now. ha ha.

 

Agarkar did have very good strike rate and decent average.

 

20 minutes ago, zen said:

SImilar ... I recall writing that on Axar v Jadeja v Tewatia v Krunal thread too 

 

As mentioned in the OP, Agarkar is the better fielder ... Tempted to put Agarkar a bit ahead as a batsman too as right now there is not much work done on Thakur by the bowlers 

 

Fair shouts. 

 

I feel history would've been kinder on Agarkar had he played with a more matured crop of fast bowlers. Barring Srinath, none of the other quicks in the 90s were anything special. 

 

Zaheer and Nehra were good bowlers but Aggy was their senior and they matured post-2007 when Aggy was more or less done.

 

I feel a pace trio of prime Aggy, Bumrah and Bhuvi/Shami would've been pretty lethal.

[G_B_]

Agarkar was super to 50 wickets. 

 

Then due to an injury had to change his run up. He was never the same again.

 

Shardul is a better batter than Agarkar but a lesser bowler. I dont think Shardul will carry the load of death bowling like Agarkar. 

[Global.Baba]

Cant compare the 2, how would Thakur have done with Agarkar’s support bowlers and vice versa.

 

for example a guy like Kishan or even Sky,Iyer can’t find a place in this side while they can walk into every other team in the world right now on the other hand don’t know if Sky and Iyer can make it to the Aussie middle order of the 2000’s.

 

When it comes to bowling it is difficult to assess because bowling is about bowling as a unit.

[Yoda-esque]

Very similar yes.

I ,hereby confer the title "Chhava" on Shardul Thakur.

[jalebi_bhai]

2 minutes ago, Global.Baba said:

Cant compare the 2, how would Thakur have done with Agarkar’s support bowlers and vice versa.

 

for example a guy like Kishan or even Sky,Iyer can’t find a place in this side while they can walk into every other team in the world right now on the other hand don’t know if Sky and Iyer can make it to the Aussie middle order of the 2000’s.

 

When it comes to bowling it is difficult to assess because bowling is about bowling as a unit.

 

Baba, it's a profile based comparison. Both are/were primarily bowlers, with useful batting ability, with an uncanny knack of picking wickets despite being expensive. 

 

They bowl same pace range yet are different types of pacers.

[velu]

thakur loves thala ..

aggy hates thala .. 

[Yoda-esque]

I admit that Agarkar was one of my fave cricketers even since I saw him bowl against aussies in Kochi and beating Gilchrist and now even Thakur is well worth watching.

[jalebi_bhai]

3 minutes ago, Yoda-esque said:

I admit that Agarkar was one of my fave cricketers even since I saw him bowl against aussies in Kochi and beating Gilchrist and now even Thakur is well worth watching.

 

Thakur is a proper enigma. Usually bowls tripe in his first spell then all of a sudden becomes Malcolm Marshall from his second spell onwards.

[vvvslaxman]

2 days back i was driving and thinking the same lol  

[Trichromatic]

4 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

2 days back i was driving and thinking the same lol  

 

You must be a married person. 

[putrevus]

Agarkar had a great outswinger but little self belief.Thakur comes across as guy who has lot of self belief. Guys like Thakur get more out of their talent.

[afan]

Yeah there seems to be some similarities between the 2.

 

Karan Johar might say that Ajit is more Classy while Shardul is more Massy isnt it

 

Lets hope Shardul can atleast match Ajits 200 plus games in the Indian colors

[neel roy]

I am surprised to say that we havent even realised he has been the single biggest match winner for India in terms of impact in last 1 year and half. Need proof read on:

 

1. West Indies last Odi. Kohli gets out on 85 odd and India struggling. Thakur comes hits sixes like having cup of tea and wins the match. 8 ball 22. Strike 1 

 

2. T20 2 versus NZ. NZ Off to a great start. Guptill mauling indian bowlers. 4 4s and 2 6s in powerplay. Thakur comes and delivers Guptill out in the Last ball of powerplay. Nz finishes at 135. Game over ( He got the wicket of rampaging Munro 59 off 42 balls in first t20 which stalled their charge) Strike 2

 

3. T20 3 vs Nz: When all pace bowlers going at over 8 rate. He comes and delivers. Gets Guptill again and most importantly derails the chase with Grandhommes wicket. Finishes with figures of 2/21 in 3. Amazing. Strike 3

 

4. T20 4 : India tottering at 88/6 in 11.3 overs. In comes Thakur hits a quick fire 15 ball 20 and when he gets out India has scored 43 runs in 5 overs and are at more respectable 131/7. Now comes the clincher. Last over of the match. 7 runs needed in 6 balls. Nz 159/3. Seiffert 57 of 39 and Taylor 24 of 17. Win viz shows Indias chance of win as 1 perc. First ball Taylor gone slow full toss .. Seiffert run out. 5th ball Mitchell caught by Dube. India ties the match and wins in super over. Man of the match Thakur. 2 wickets in an over. Strike 4. 

 

5. T20 5 : Again repeats this 2 wickets in an over when NZ is chasing. Gets Kuggeileijn and Santner out in 17 th over completely derailing the chase. Bumrah does the rest. India win by 7 runs. Minor but important impact. 
 

Ends up With Highest wicket taker in the series. 

 

Now we fly to Australia 

 

6. ODI 3 :First 2 odi s he sits out. India get thrashed. Steven Smith is looking better than Bradman. Scoring runs for fun. 3rd odi Thakur back and gets Steve Smith. Smith does nothing for next 5 matches till he scores a century in Sydney. Thakur finishes the match with 3/53 in a high scoring game and takes the wickets of dangerous Henriques and Sean Abbot.  Strike 5

 

First 2 t20s he sits out. Then in 3rd t20 he smashes 7 ball 17. If he would have been sent early he could have won the match. Instead Sundar was sent and he scored 7 of 6 balls. Weird captaincy.Btw in that match he took the wicket of Matthew wade as well 53 ball 80..the 19th over he bowled went for 7 runs and 1 wicket and checked Aus score which was looking to be on course for 200. 
 

4th Test Brisbane : Enough said. Strike 6. 
 

We fly back to India and see his impact :

England

2ndT20 : Takes the wickets of Morgan and Stokes. Clutch wickets in the death. Instead of 180 the score for England comes down to 165. Morgan was on 28 off 20 balls and Stokes 24 of 21. Fooled them with slowers and cutters

 

4th t20: Comes to bat when Indias innings is losing steam. Scores 10 Off 4 balls. Smacks Archer and Wood for a boundary. India score 185 instead of 177 odd. Thats the difference and india win by 8 runs. While bowling takes out Stokes and Morgan back to back balls. Gets Jordan as well. Bowls the last over. Keeps calm even after getting hammered for a 6 and 4. Ends up With 3/42. 
 

5th t20 : England on rampage. Comes and delivers again. Gets Bairstow and Malan who was looking ominous in same over again : 68 of 46 balls and gets Jordan as well. Ends up with 3/45. The last 20 runs scored in last over of match when the match was already gone. 

Ends the series being the highest wicket taker again. In consecutive t20 series. 
 

1st odi: India under pump. Bairstow flaying India. Gets him out and derails Englands chase.. gets Buttler and Morgan in same

over ( its crazy) AGAIN. Ends up with 3/37. 
 

 

So thats in a nutshell is my university dissertation on Mr Thakur. He has been the most impactful and consistent player in Indian wins in last 18 months.. and we should be happy we have him In our team. He has impact in at least 7 Indian wins which no other player has.. if he was from England he would have been hailed as next coming of Botham.. same goes for Aus and pakistan... but we Indians  are hard to please.. right..

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Soumo]

32 minutes ago, neel roy said:

I am surprised to say that we havent even realised he has been the single biggest match winner for India in terms of impact in last 1 year and half. Need proof read on:

 

1. West Indies last Odi. Kohli gets out on 85 odd and India struggling. Thakur comes hits sixes like having cup of tea and wins the match. 8 ball 22. Strike 1 

 

2. T20 2 versus NZ. NZ Off to a great start. Guptill mauling indian bowlers. 4 4s and 2 6s in powerplay. Thakur comes and delivers Guptill out in the Last ball of powerplay. Nz finishes at 135. Game over ( He got the wicket of rampaging Munro 59 off 42 balls in first t20 which stalled their charge) Strike 2

 

3. T20 3 vs Nz: When all pace bowlers going at over 8 rate. He comes and delivers. Gets Guptill again and most importantly derails the chase with Grandhommes wicket. Finishes with figures of 2/21 in 3. Amazing. Strike 3

 

4. T20 4 : India tottering at 88/6 in 11.3 overs. In comes Thakur hits a quick fire 15 ball 20 and when he gets out India has scored 43 runs in 5 overs and are at more respectable 131/7. Now comes the clincher. Last over of the match. 7 runs needed in 6 balls. Nz 159/3. Seiffert 57 of 39 and Taylor 24 of 17. Win viz shows Indias chance of win as 1 perc. First ball Taylor gone slow full toss .. Seiffert run out. 5th ball Mitchell caught by Dube. India ties the match and wins in super over. Man of the match Thakur. 2 wickets in an over. Strike 4. 

 

5. T20 5 : Again repeats this 2 wickets in an over when NZ is chasing. Gets Kuggeileijn and Santner out in 17 th over completely derailing the chase. Bumrah does the rest. India win by 7 runs. Minor but important impact. 
 

Ends up With Highest wicket taker in the series. 

 

Now we fly to Australia 

 

6. ODI 3 :First 2 odi s he sits out. India get thrashed. Steven Smith is looking better than Bradman. Scoring runs for fun. 3rd odi Thakur back and gets Steve Smith. Smith does nothing for next 5 matches till he scores a century in Sydney. Thakur finishes the match with 3/53 in a high scoring game and takes the wickets of dangerous Henriques and Sean Abbot.  Strike 5

 

First 2 t20s he sits out. Then in 3rd t20 he smashes 7 ball 17. If he would have been sent early he could have won the match. Instead Sundar was sent and he scored 7 of 6 balls. Weird captaincy.Btw in that match he took the wicket of Matthew wade as well 53 ball 80..the 19th over he bowled went for 7 runs and 1 wicket and checked Aus score which was looking to be on course for 200. 
 

4th Test Brisbane : Enough said. Strike 6. 
 

We fly back to India and see his impact :

England

2ndT20 : Takes the wickets of Morgan and Stokes. Clutch wickets in the death. Instead of 180 the score for England comes down to 165. Morgan was on 28 off 20 balls and Stokes 24 of 21. Fooled them with slowers and cutters

 

4th t20: Comes to bat when Indias innings is losing steam. Scores 10 Off 4 balls. Smacks Archer and Wood for a boundary. India score 185 instead of 177 odd. Thats the difference and india win by 8 runs. While bowling takes out Stokes and Morgan back to back balls. Gets Jordan as well. Bowls the last over. Keeps calm even after getting hammered for a 6 and 4. Ends up With 3/42. 
 

5th t20 : England on rampage. Comes and delivers again. Gets Bairstow and Malan who was looking ominous in same over again : 68 of 46 balls and gets Jordan as well. Ends up with 3/45. The last 20 runs scored in last over of match when the match was already gone. 

Ends the series being the highest wicket taker again. In consecutive t20 series. 
 

1st odi: India under pump. Bairstow flaying India. Gets him out and derails Englands chase.. gets Buttler and Morgan in same

over ( its crazy) AGAIN. Ends up with 3/37. 
 

 

So thats in a nutshell is my university dissertation on Mr Thakur. He has been the most impactful and consistent player in Indian wins in last 18 months.. and we should be happy we have him In our team. He has impact in at least 7 Indian wins which no other player has.. if he was from England he would have been hailed as next coming of Botham.. same goes for Aus and pakistan... but we Indians  are hard to please.. right..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Great analysis ,don't rate him as a bowler got to say he has some real batting fire power.

[prudent_kreeda]

4 hours ago, neel roy said:

I am surprised to say that we havent even realised he has been the single biggest match winner for India in terms of impact in last 1 year and half. Need proof read on:

 

1. West Indies last Odi. Kohli gets out on 85 odd and India struggling. Thakur comes hits sixes like having cup of tea and wins the match. 8 ball 22. Strike 1 

 

2. T20 2 versus NZ. NZ Off to a great start. Guptill mauling indian bowlers. 4 4s and 2 6s in powerplay. Thakur comes and delivers Guptill out in the Last ball of powerplay. Nz finishes at 135. Game over ( He got the wicket of rampaging Munro 59 off 42 balls in first t20 which stalled their charge) Strike 2

 

3. T20 3 vs Nz: When all pace bowlers going at over 8 rate. He comes and delivers. Gets Guptill again and most importantly derails the chase with Grandhommes wicket. Finishes with figures of 2/21 in 3. Amazing. Strike 3

 

4. T20 4 : India tottering at 88/6 in 11.3 overs. In comes Thakur hits a quick fire 15 ball 20 and when he gets out India has scored 43 runs in 5 overs and are at more respectable 131/7. Now comes the clincher. Last over of the match. 7 runs needed in 6 balls. Nz 159/3. Seiffert 57 of 39 and Taylor 24 of 17. Win viz shows Indias chance of win as 1 perc. First ball Taylor gone slow full toss .. Seiffert run out. 5th ball Mitchell caught by Dube. India ties the match and wins in super over. Man of the match Thakur. 2 wickets in an over. Strike 4. 

 

5. T20 5 : Again repeats this 2 wickets in an over when NZ is chasing. Gets Kuggeileijn and Santner out in 17 th over completely derailing the chase. Bumrah does the rest. India win by 7 runs. Minor but important impact. 
 

Ends up With Highest wicket taker in the series. 

 

Now we fly to Australia 

 

6. ODI 3 :First 2 odi s he sits out. India get thrashed. Steven Smith is looking better than Bradman. Scoring runs for fun. 3rd odi Thakur back and gets Steve Smith. Smith does nothing for next 5 matches till he scores a century in Sydney. Thakur finishes the match with 3/53 in a high scoring game and takes the wickets of dangerous Henriques and Sean Abbot.  Strike 5

 

First 2 t20s he sits out. Then in 3rd t20 he smashes 7 ball 17. If he would have been sent early he could have won the match. Instead Sundar was sent and he scored 7 of 6 balls. Weird captaincy.Btw in that match he took the wicket of Matthew wade as well 53 ball 80..the 19th over he bowled went for 7 runs and 1 wicket and checked Aus score which was looking to be on course for 200. 
 

4th Test Brisbane : Enough said. Strike 6. 
 

We fly back to India and see his impact :

England

2ndT20 : Takes the wickets of Morgan and Stokes. Clutch wickets in the death. Instead of 180 the score for England comes down to 165. Morgan was on 28 off 20 balls and Stokes 24 of 21. Fooled them with slowers and cutters

 

4th t20: Comes to bat when Indias innings is losing steam. Scores 10 Off 4 balls. Smacks Archer and Wood for a boundary. India score 185 instead of 177 odd. Thats the difference and india win by 8 runs. While bowling takes out Stokes and Morgan back to back balls. Gets Jordan as well. Bowls the last over. Keeps calm even after getting hammered for a 6 and 4. Ends up With 3/42. 
 

5th t20 : England on rampage. Comes and delivers again. Gets Bairstow and Malan who was looking ominous in same over again : 68 of 46 balls and gets Jordan as well. Ends up with 3/45. The last 20 runs scored in last over of match when the match was already gone. 

Ends the series being the highest wicket taker again. In consecutive t20 series. 
 

1st odi: India under pump. Bairstow flaying India. Gets him out and derails Englands chase.. gets Buttler and Morgan in same

over ( its crazy) AGAIN. Ends up with 3/37. 
 

 

So thats in a nutshell is my university dissertation on Mr Thakur. He has been the most impactful and consistent player in Indian wins in last 18 months.. and we should be happy we have him In our team. He has impact in at least 7 Indian wins which no other player has.. if he was from England he would have been hailed as next coming of Botham.. same goes for Aus and pakistan... but we Indians  are hard to please.. right..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Gosh !  Fantastic post !

 We were so drunk with Phaaast  stuff that till AUS series just went on bashing him including me and poured the chicest of abuses .

 Skillset of trickery in bringing the variations of deliveries when batsmen come after you in T20 is the best proposition for a team to win matches and not  just Phaast alone be it 145 or 148 . Batsmen play vs bowling machines 1000s of balls at 145-150.+ these days.

Bhuvi & Thakur are 2 good examples  of that .

Its the same in Spin bowling too , thats why  Rashid Khan  is where he is in T20.

For me an inform Varun C in WCT21  is a must if we have chance and playing Kulcha is asking for disaster in crucial KO games in WC. 

Bhumra, Bhuvi, Thakur, Varun C  should be the bowlers for WC 21.

Add to that his utility vs Lefties as a match up

 

Edited March 25, 2021 by prudent_kreeda

[putrevus]

Guy like Thakur cannot play every match, he has to be picked for couple of matches in a series to get best out of him.Test matches in SENA, he would play one of two matches per series based on the wickets.

[Global.Baba]

6 hours ago, neel roy said:

I am surprised to say that we havent even realised he has been the single biggest match winner for India in terms of impact in last 1 year and half. Need proof read on:

 

1. West Indies last Odi. Kohli gets out on 85 odd and India struggling. Thakur comes hits sixes like having cup of tea and wins the match. 8 ball 22. Strike 1 

 

2. T20 2 versus NZ. NZ Off to a great start. Guptill mauling indian bowlers. 4 4s and 2 6s in powerplay. Thakur comes and delivers Guptill out in the Last ball of powerplay. Nz finishes at 135. Game over ( He got the wicket of rampaging Munro 59 off 42 balls in first t20 which stalled their charge) Strike 2

 

3. T20 3 vs Nz: When all pace bowlers going at over 8 rate. He comes and delivers. Gets Guptill again and most importantly derails the chase with Grandhommes wicket. Finishes with figures of 2/21 in 3. Amazing. Strike 3

 

4. T20 4 : India tottering at 88/6 in 11.3 overs. In comes Thakur hits a quick fire 15 ball 20 and when he gets out India has scored 43 runs in 5 overs and are at more respectable 131/7. Now comes the clincher. Last over of the match. 7 runs needed in 6 balls. Nz 159/3. Seiffert 57 of 39 and Taylor 24 of 17. Win viz shows Indias chance of win as 1 perc. First ball Taylor gone slow full toss .. Seiffert run out. 5th ball Mitchell caught by Dube. India ties the match and wins in super over. Man of the match Thakur. 2 wickets in an over. Strike 4. 

 

5. T20 5 : Again repeats this 2 wickets in an over when NZ is chasing. Gets Kuggeileijn and Santner out in 17 th over completely derailing the chase. Bumrah does the rest. India win by 7 runs. Minor but important impact. 
 

Ends up With Highest wicket taker in the series. 

 

Now we fly to Australia 

 

6. ODI 3 :First 2 odi s he sits out. India get thrashed. Steven Smith is looking better than Bradman. Scoring runs for fun. 3rd odi Thakur back and gets Steve Smith. Smith does nothing for next 5 matches till he scores a century in Sydney. Thakur finishes the match with 3/53 in a high scoring game and takes the wickets of dangerous Henriques and Sean Abbot.  Strike 5

 

First 2 t20s he sits out. Then in 3rd t20 he smashes 7 ball 17. If he would have been sent early he could have won the match. Instead Sundar was sent and he scored 7 of 6 balls. Weird captaincy.Btw in that match he took the wicket of Matthew wade as well 53 ball 80..the 19th over he bowled went for 7 runs and 1 wicket and checked Aus score which was looking to be on course for 200. 
 

4th Test Brisbane : Enough said. Strike 6. 
 

We fly back to India and see his impact :

England

2ndT20 : Takes the wickets of Morgan and Stokes. Clutch wickets in the death. Instead of 180 the score for England comes down to 165. Morgan was on 28 off 20 balls and Stokes 24 of 21. Fooled them with slowers and cutters

 

4th t20: Comes to bat when Indias innings is losing steam. Scores 10 Off 4 balls. Smacks Archer and Wood for a boundary. India score 185 instead of 177 odd. Thats the difference and india win by 8 runs. While bowling takes out Stokes and Morgan back to back balls. Gets Jordan as well. Bowls the last over. Keeps calm even after getting hammered for a 6 and 4. Ends up With 3/42. 
 

5th t20 : England on rampage. Comes and delivers again. Gets Bairstow and Malan who was looking ominous in same over again : 68 of 46 balls and gets Jordan as well. Ends up with 3/45. The last 20 runs scored in last over of match when the match was already gone. 

Ends the series being the highest wicket taker again. In consecutive t20 series. 
 

1st odi: India under pump. Bairstow flaying India. Gets him out and derails Englands chase.. gets Buttler and Morgan in same

over ( its crazy) AGAIN. Ends up with 3/37. 
 

 

So thats in a nutshell is my university dissertation on Mr Thakur. He has been the most impactful and consistent player in Indian wins in last 18 months.. and we should be happy we have him In our team. He has impact in at least 7 Indian wins which no other player has.. if he was from England he would have been hailed as next coming of Botham.. same goes for Aus and pakistan... but we Indians  are hard to please.. right..

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lord Shardul is actually our Ben Stokes and people were looking else where while he was right in front of us