After a forgettable performance in the first match of the series between India and hosts South Africa, fast bowler Shardul Thakur won the hearts of everyone with his all-around performance in the second Test being played at the Wanderers Stadium. Is. From master blaster Sachin Tendulkar to Test specialist VVS Laxman, everyone heaped praise on Shardul for his record-breaking spell against the Proteas in Johannesburg.

Praising Shardul Thakur for completing the all-rounder's role, former India opener Aakash Chopra made a scintillating statement about the Mumbaikar's rapid rise in Test cricket. Hardik Pandya's departure from the Indian team and Ravindra Jadeja's injury had created a void for the visitors in their Test tour of South Africa. In such a situation, Aakash Chopra told how Shardul has replaced Pandya with his all-around performance in the South Africa Test series.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel that Shardul Thakur has given a strong reason for choosing himself in front of the selectors. He said, “In the absence of a better example, what we were expecting from Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur is fulfilling. We were looking at Hardik again and again that he would bowl and score runs with the bat, but now it is all Shardul Thakur doing."

Shardul Thakur made his name in history after taking a record seven wickets against South Africa in Johannesburg. After this, the pacer also showed his batting skills at The Wanderers Stadium. He played an explosive and important inning of 28 runs in 24 balls in India's second innings. Pacer Shardul did even better than South African opener Aiden Markram in the second Test in Johannesburg.

If India were able to set a challenging target of 266 runs in front of South Africa, then it was credited to the half-centuries of Cheteshwar Pujara (53 off 86 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (58 off 78 balls) and 111 runs in 23.2 overs for the third wicket between the two. goes to the partnership. Later Hanuma Vihari (40 not out off 84 balls) combined with the last four batsmen to add 82 runs. In this, Shardul Thakur (28 off 24 balls) made an important contribution.