'We're here to put up a show': Shardul Thakur fires warning before Test series vs England
Shardul Thakur (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: India all-rounder Shardul Thakur believes the visiting Indian team has what it takes to win the upcoming five-match Test series against England, which begins in Leeds on Friday.
Shardul was part of the Indian squad that toured England in 2021-22. India were leading 2-1 in that series before the final Test was postponed to the following year due to Covid-19. India, playing without regular captain
Rohit Sharma
, lost the rescheduled Test, and the series ended 2-2.
With Rohit Sharma and
Virat Kohli
having stepped away from red-ball cricket, the young Indian side, now under new captain Shubman Gill, will face a tough challenge in English conditions.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
"I think it's very exciting to play in this part of the world where you face different challenges. The first one, of course, is weather. Sometimes it's cloudy, sometimes it's bright, sunny, and as a player, you need to make adjustments to your game, whether you're batting or bowling," the pace-bowling all-rounder said in a video posted on BCCI's social media accounts.
"It's good to have that fresh energy in the team, a few youngsters coming up, and new talents are always exciting.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Fast, Reliable Wi-Fi Starts with the Right Provider
Search7
Learn More
Undo
Now that the England team is also playing a different kind of cricket. You know, like to surprise them also that we are here to put up a show, and it's always great to win away series, away from home. And if we could achieve this feat, it would be massive for the entire nation," he added.
Reflecting on India's previous tour, Shardul called it "one of the fondest memories" of his career. He played three Tests during the series, taking eight wickets and scoring two half-centuries in the fourth Test.
The making of Dhruv Jurel: Kargil war hero's son who chose cricket over the Army
"I think the 2021 series, where we won a couple of games. The first one also we could have won, but unfortunately, it rained on the last day and we couldn't chase down the total. But then we won in Lord's, then we won in The Oval, and then we came back for the fifth Test next year. The series was level, but that was one of the fondest memories of mine, one of the best Test series that I have been part of," he recalled.
India will be eyeing a historic win, as they look to clinch a Test series in England for the first time since 2007. The five-match series also marks India's first assignment in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
9 minutes ago
- The Hindu
India women loses to Argentina in FIH Pro League
India's frustrating FIH Women's Pro League campaign continued with the Salima Tete-led side suffering its third successive loss, a 1-4 defeat to world No. 2 side Argentina in London on Tuesday. Deepika was the lone goal-scorer for India, converting a penalty corner in the 30th minute, while for Argentina Agustina Gorzelany struck a hat-trick (40', 54' & 59'). Victoria Falasco (29') scored the opening goal for the winners. India began with intent and was a dominant force in the first quarter before it curiously lost momentum midway through the second quarter to be completely overwhelmed by its higher-ranked opponent. India was off to a great start with the team making full-hearted attempts to score the opener. In fact, Salima came within sniffing distance of scoring a goal midway through the first quarter when she made a dash from the right but made a mess of things when she was just a few yards from the goalmouth and completely unguarded. ALSO READ | India women's hockey team squanders lead, suffers second consecutive loss against Australia in FIH Pro League A move initiated by Naveent Kaur from the Indian half in the 18th minute saw her relay the ball to Lalremsiami, who gave a pass to Bajeet Kaur, but the forward wasted that precious milli-second to take a touch as another big opportunity went abegging. It seemed India was holding its own against the No. 2 ranked team in the world after successive defeats against Australia. But curiously, coach Harendra Singh's side went off the boil midway through the second quarter, as its rival hit back with full force. Sensing that India was not pushing that hard in the second quarter, Argentina went for an all-out attack and scored the game's opening goal when Victoria Falasco found an opening on the left and used the short swing to perfection to slot home the opening goal in the 29th minute. However, India hit back with just one second remaining in the second quarter when Deepika converted a penalty corner following a superb injection to bring up the equaliser. The third quarter saw India dominate the first few minutes before surprisingly handing over the initiative to Argentina, whose link play saw it once again take control. A penalty stroke in the 40th minute, which was converted by Agustina, gave the winner a 2-1 lead. Argentina soon earned back-to-back penalty corners -- its 3rd and 4th -- in the 48th minute but the Indian defenders were up to the task. However, contrary to coach Singh's assertion at half-time that it would be an even contest, things continued to go downhill for his side as Agustina piled more misery with two goals in the last quarter. India will play its second match against Argentina on Wednesday.
News18
16 minutes ago
- News18
FIH Women's Pro League: India Faces Third Straight Defeat; Fall 1-4 To Argentina
India's challenging FIH Women's Pro League campaign continued as the Salima Tete-led side suffered their third consecutive loss, falling 1-4 to world No.2 Argentina on Tuesday. Deepika was India's sole goal-scorer, converting a penalty corner in the 30th minute. For Argentina, Agustina Gorzelany scored a hat-trick (40′, 54′, 59′), and Victoria Falasco netted the opening goal in the 29th minute. India started strong and dominated the first quarter, but they lost momentum midway through the second quarter, allowing their higher-ranked opponents to take control. India began well, making several attempts to score the opener. Salima nearly scored midway through the first quarter, but she missed the opportunity when she was unmarked just a few yards from the goalmouth. In the 18th minute, Naveent Kaur initiated a move from the Indian half, passing to Lalremsiami, who then relayed the ball to Bajeet Kaur. However, Bajeet missed the crucial moment to take a shot, squandering another excellent opportunity. India appeared to be holding their own against the No.2 ranked team after successive defeats to Australia. However, coach Harendra Singh's side lost their edge midway through the second quarter, allowing Argentina to seize the initiative. Sensing India's drop in intensity, Argentina launched an all-out attack. Victoria Falasco capitalised on an opening in the 29th minute, scoring with a well-placed shot to give Argentina the lead. India responded just before the half-time whistle when Deepika converted a penalty corner, levelling the score. In the third quarter, India dominated the initial minutes but then surprisingly lost the initiative. Argentina regained control through effective link play. Agustina Gorzelany converted a penalty stroke in the 40th minute, putting Argentina ahead 2-1. Although Argentina earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 48th minute, India's defenders managed to thwart their attempts. Despite coach Singh's half-time assertion that it would be an even contest, things continued to worsen for India. Agustina added two more goals in the final quarter, sealing Argentina's victory. India will face Argentina again on Wednesday. (with agency inputs)
Indian Express
20 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Hockey: Case of missed opportunities for Salima Tete and Co as Agustina Gorzelany's hat-trick powers Argentina to 4-1 win
Scoreline: Argentina 4 (Victoria Falasco 29′, Agustina Gorzelany 40′, 54′ and 59′) beat India 1 (Deepika 30′) Before Argentina's first goal came late in the first half, the best openings to score were fashioned by India. Before Argentina's second goal to retake the lead in the third quarter, India had two golden chances from open play when three attackers were overloaded in front of a solitary defender but failed to convert and take the lead. In the end, a 1-4 defeat in London against the world No 2 side was perhaps harsh on Salima Tete's side but it meant they suffered a third straight defeat and puts them in danger of relegation from the FIH Pro League. Coach Harendra Singh was confident ahead of the match that his team can push one of the best sides in the world. 'Unfortunately, I feel sad for my girls for the two matches against Australia (where they lost by 1-goal margins), they gave it everything but still we couldn't get the points. But that's the mindset with which we have come here. If we play to our strengths like we did against the Aussies, we will have a good chance.' They did, indeed, but it came down to what they did with those chances ultimately. India overall had the better of the opening exchanges at both ends of the pitch, creating good attacking angles but also holding a solid shape defensively and largely restricting Argentina to passive possession. The first strong attacking move of the match came from India as Neha broke through from a tight area in the defensive half before releasing Lalremsiami, who made a driving run into the circle but her shot was weak. And the first big chance of the match came with four minutes to go in Q1 as Salima Tete found herself in space down the right channel but with time and space, the captain fluffed her lines, caught in two minds over crossing across goal and going for a shot, ultimately firing it high and wide. There was a lot of endeavour from India without a clear outcome, a problem area that coach Harendra has been wanting to improve since he took over – making the right decisions in the attacking third. But the opening 15 minutes were a reflection of the confidence that Harendra had on his side for pulling off something against one of the best teams in the world. Argentina upped the tempo at the start of the second quarter, playing one-touch hockey and looking vertical on the pitch instead of sideways. A Penalty Corner was a just reward for them, and it gave the brilliant Agustina Gorzelany a chance to test the Indian defence with her drag flicks. Over the next couple of months in England, it is a sight cricket fans would not want to see from Indian batters in the Test series, but a leading edge from Navneet Kaur's stick prevented a certain goal after Bichu Devi was beaten in goal. The goalkeeper reacted sharply shortly after from a good deflection on target, and India hung on to the clean sheet. India should have gone ahead soon after a blistering counterattack initiated by vice-captain Navneet Kaur. She drove forward from the defensive half, found Lalremsiami down the right who hit a nice pass into the circle. The ball eventually fell to Baljeet Kaur at the far post and from a good 1v1 situation, she couldn't find the target as she tried to lift the ball over the keeper who was actually off her line. Lack of composure, again a problem. When you don't convert the half chances against top sides, invariably, they make you pay. With less than two minutes to go in the half, Gorzelany, the lone player in the Argentina half, had all the time to play a long aerial into the circle. Jyoti Singh attempted to play it first, but her touch took the ball into the stick of an Argentine attacker and the ball broke kindly to Victoria Falasco who hammered a powerful low shot past Bichu. To India's credit though, they kept going till the last moments of the half and won a PC with six seconds left on the clock. And Deepika stepped up and fired a low drag flick to beat the first rusher and then the goalkeeper to her right. It wasn't about the power but about placement, showing an evolution in her flicking. Coach Harendra loves referring to India's style as 'masala hockey', and at the start of the second half, they had two deliciously spicy chances to take the lead. A brilliant turnover in defence resulted in a blistering counterattack, developing into a 3v1 situation, but Salima delayed her pass-shot too late, and Cristina Cosentino was able to pad it away. And India actually had another 3v1 situation shortly after too, and this time Navneet's shot across goal was blocked. Two golden chances in the matter of minutes went begging. Then Gorzelany's class from the PCs made the difference for Argentina again as India's inability to take the lead bit them back. The drag-flick ace went high this time, targeting the roof of the net and the ball hit Jyoti Singh's body on the line, resulting in a penalty stroke that the Argentine star duly converted. India won a couple of PCs early in the final quarter but not for the first time, they had Deepika on the bench and not on the field, meaning they had to resort to their backup plans that didn't pay off. Argentina's third goal came off a stroke that was harshly given against India and Gorzelany made no mistake. She'd go on to complete a hat-trick from another drag flick, making the most of India being one short defensively. A 4-1 scoreline perhaps flattered Argentina but it was a result brought about by India's inability to convert periods of dominance into goals and the world No 2 having an elite goalscorer like Gorzelany in their ranks. Vinayakk Mohanarangan is Senior Assistant Editor and is based in New Delhi. ... Read More
