WTC Final: Pat Cummins wakes up ‘sleeping lion’ Shardul Thakur with twin blows, revengeful attitude backfires

Shardul was first hit on the second ball as the Indian team physio came running in the middle to treat a wincing Shadrul Thakur. As the game resumed after Shadrul took a painkiller and after a considerable break, the gun pacer hit him once again at the same spot. The physio came running in again.

However, the twin blows fired up the 31-year-old cricketer once again as he started to bat with more gut and determination and went on to forge a partnership in excess of 100 runs with Ajinkya Rahane. Notably, Shardul has made a name for himself for his fighting knocks in difficult circumstances.

He scored a match-winning 67 off 115 in the Gabba Test against Australia in 2019. In 2021 while batting at the same venue, the right-hander scored 57 off just 36 balls as other batters struggled and India were bundled out for 191. He then smashed 60 off 72 in the second innings as India went on to win the match by 157 runs.

His knack of giving India crucial breakthroughs with the ball and match-defining knocks with the bat has earned him the tag of ‘Lord’. Fans often call him ‘Lord Shardul Thakur’ out of love and adoration.

As Cummins hit Shardul Thakur twice fans expected a fightback from him and he did not disappoint them. The Mumbai cricketer played with a lot of grit and determination and gave Australia a run for their money.

Mohammed Siraj had hit Marnus Labuschagne with a short delivery on Day 1 and he was forced to take a painkiller on Day 1. Cummins tried to execute a revenge but it backfired big time. At the time of Lunch on Day 3, Shardul was batting on unbeaten 36 off 83 and his partnership with Rahane had reached 108 not out off 133.

To add to Cummin’s injury, Cummins tapped Shardul in front of the stumps but the third umpire adjudged the delivery as a no ball after the review was taken. Here’s how the fans have reacted.