IPL 2023 | KKR vs GT: Shardul Thakur’s ‘Game-Changing’ Knock Praised by Irfan Pathan

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan hails Shardul Thakur's belligerent knock that led KKR to a resounding victory over RCB in the IPL 2023 match.

Shardul Thakur’s explosive knock against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2023 match has set the cricketing world on fire. The Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) all-rounder smashed 68 runs off just 29 balls, helping his team post a total of 204/7. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan was full of praise for Thakur’s game-changing innings, stating that such knocks are usually expected from the likes of Andre Russell or Sunil Narine in KKR’s lineup.

Sharduk Thakur

The score was 89/5 when Thakur walked in to bat, and he went on to forge a 103-run partnership with Rinku Singh, taking his team past 200. Pathan lauded Thakur’s fearless approach, pointing out that he batted in a difficult situation when KKR could have been out of the game. This was Thakur’s highest score in his IPL career, and he will be hoping to carry his form into KKR’s next match against Gujarat Titans.

Also Read: IPL 2023 | GT vs KKR: Sanjay Manjrekar Credits Hardik Pandya’s Leadership Style for Gujarat Titans’ Success in IPL

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif explained why Thakur never got a chance to showcase his batting prowess for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he played for much of his career. According to Kaif, Thakur never got a chance to bat at a higher position since CSK always had all-rounders, and he batted at No. 9 or No. 10. However, Thakur’s game plan is simple, and he played proper shots against RCB, displaying his all-round skills.

Suyash

Not just this, In their second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 81 runs. KKR skipper Nitish Rana praised the young leg-spinner Suyash Sharma for his quick arm speed, which he believes could be the X-factor for the team as it makes it difficult for batters to pick him. Despite not being a mystery spinner like Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, Suyash’s orthodox action and quick arm speed make it challenging for the batsmen to distinguish between his googly and leg-spinner deliveries.

Also Read: IPL 2023 | KKR v GT: Varun Chakravarthy’s Stunning IPL Performance Could Earn Him a Spot on India’s ODI World Cup 2023 Squad, Says Virender Sehwag

In his debut match, Suyash Sharma demonstrated his fighting attitude and ability to pick up crucial wickets against a quality Bangalore batting lineup. KKR head coach Chandrakant Pandit praised the young spinner for being quick in the air, although he highlighted that Suyash is still inexperienced. The 19-year-old finished his four-overs spell with 30 runs at an economy rate of 7.5, and his performance was a significant factor in KKR’s victory over RCB.

Varun

Shardul Thakur’s heroics with the bat have left fans and critics alike in awe, and he has proven that he is not just a bowler but an all-rounder to be reckoned with. KKR will be hoping that Thakur’s form continues as they prepare to face off against Gujarat Titans on April 9.

IPL 2024

Related articles

IPL 2025, RCB vs RR- Bengaluru Pitch Report and Weather Forecast Today Match

The 42nd match of IPL 2025 will see Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in...

IPL 2025 Orange and Purple Cap List- SKY Reaches Number 3

Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians registered their fourth consecutive win by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets. The star performer with...

BCCI Central Contract 2025: 34 Players Including Shreyas Iyer Get Lucky, Awarded Central Contracts – What Happened to Ishan Kishan?

BCCI Central Contract 2025 Announced: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan Return to the List of 34 Players The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)...

KKR vs GT, IPL 2025- Eden Gardens Pitch Report Today Match

The 39th match of IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will be played at Eden Gardens. KKR comes into...

Suryakumar Makes a Strong Entry in IPL 2025 Orange Cap Race; Who is Owning the Purple Cap?

There have been consistent changes in the Orange Cap race in IPL 2025. Even after the double header on Sunday (April 20), there was...

RR vs LSG, IPL 2025- Sawai Mansingh Stadium Pitch Report Today Match

The 36th match of IPL 2025 between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be played today, Saturday, 19th April, at the...

RCB vs PBKS Playing 11: Punjab Likely to Make Major Changes Despite Win, Set to Clash with RCB in Bengaluru

In the 34th match of the Indian Premier League 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face off against Punjab Kings today at the M. Chinnaswamy...

RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025- Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report Today Match

The IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be held on Friday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in...