Shardul Thakur learns about West Indies conditions and pitches by watching ‘Fire in Babylon’
Shardul Thakur watches 'Fire in Babylon'
Shardul Thakur, who is in Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) squad for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016, has watched the famed documentary film ‘Fire in Babylon’. According to Shardul, he learnt lot about West Indies cricket from the movie. It needs to be mentioned here that the medium-pace bowler has been picked up in India’s squad for West Indies tour 2016. Shardul watched the film at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) academy in Mumbai. He called West Indies an attacking team. Shardul added that West Indies had few of the greatest fast bowlers back in 1970s and 80s as is depicted in the documentary. India tour of West Indies 2016: Shardul Thakur’s selection celebration at home kept low key
Shardul was quoted by DNA saying, ” I have seen that movie [Fire in Babylon], and got to know a lot of things from it. How they built the team, what happened in Australia, how they won two back-to-back World Cups. They had a few of the fastest bowlers, the world feared them. Now, cricket has evolved a lot through T20. They are an attacking team. Am looking forward to going there.” READ: Shardul Thakur attributes his maiden India call-up to Mumbai Ranji Trophy team
“People in Palghar were happy about my selection [for West Indies tour]. The celebrations were not high, though, as my mother’s brother passed away a couple of weeks ago. Friends came home and we cut a cake. I don’t have idea about the pitches there. I will go there and figure them out. I will talk to my senior players, I will figure out in the practice sessions. It will be good to speak to senior players including Sachin Tendulkar if the opportunity arises, and will try to gather as much knowledge as possible.”
“I am a different type of bowler. I would rather concentrate on my bowling, do my basics right. That is what I have been doing in the last three seasons and I would like to do at the higher level.” Shardul stays at his uncle’s place in Mumbai, which saves his travel time from Palghar. “Sometimes, even today, I travel from Palghar to play cricket. It was very difficult to travel from Palghar to Mumbai each and every day. But I had to play cricket. Cricket was the only thing on my mind. Rest of the things did not matter. I was ready to do it.” READ: Kings XI Punjab set to release 3 players after Shardul Thakur’s angry tweet: Reports
Shardul plays for Payyade Sports Club. He was honoured with a shawl and was also given a cheque of 1 lakh rupess by the owner of the club and joint secretary of Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) PV Shetty. Shardul had some words of advice for budding bowlers, “I remember when I started playing, I used to travel from Palghar to Mumbai. I never skipped my practice sessions, always listened to my coaches. The process is long. You cannot take shortcuts to play at the higher level. It is always step by step – Under-15, 17, 19, Ranji trophy.”
” While doing it, you have to progress step by step. While doing it, you have to remember the process. There has to be some purpose to why you sweat it out in practice. To achieve that purpose and your goals, you have to follow the process. That is what I am doing day in and day out and will still be doing it. And I expect you all to do it.”