SA vs IND: Shardul Thakur Breaks 5 Records With His 1st 7-Wicket Haul in Test cricket

Indian bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, on Tuesday (January 04) set the stage on fire with his fierce bowling skills to bring India back into the game against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Thakur ended the South African innings with figures of 7/61, which is the best by any Indian bowler against South Africa in Test cricket. Not just this, following his brilliant spell, he broke 5 major records and scripted history.

Shardul Thakur Breaks 5 Records:

1. He had never taken a seven-wicket haul before in his entire first class career, with his previous best being 6/31 in the 2016/17 Ranji Trophy while playing for Mumbai against Bengal.

2. The figures of 7/61 are the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in South African pitch in Test history, going past Harbhajan Singh’s figures of 7/120. 

Best innings figures for India in SA

• 7/61 S Thakur, Joburg 2021/22 *

• 7/120 Harbhajan Singh, Cape Town 2010/11

• 6/53 A Kumble, Joburg 1992/93

• 6/76 J Srinath, Port Elizabeth 2001/02

• 6/138 R Jadeja, Durban 2013/14

3. It is also the best figure against South Africa in Tests all over, breaking Ravichandran Ashwin’s 7/66 in Nagpur back in November 2015.

Best Innings Figures For India vs SA

• 7/61 S Thakur, Joburg 2021/22 *

• 7/66 R Ashwin, Nagpur 2015/16

• 7/87 Harbhajan Singh, Kolkata 2004/05

• 7/120 Harbhajan Singh, Cape Town 2010/11

4. The 30-year-old also became the second-fastest Indian to take a seven-wicket haul in Tests. He took only 6 matches to achieve the feat while former Indian pacer and legend Amar Singh, achieved it im just four matches. 

5. He is also the first Indian fast bowler to take seven wickets in an innings in South Africa. Javagal Srinath held the record for the best figures by an Indian fast bowler in South Africa when he took six wickets for 76 runs in Port Elizabeth in November 2001.

Thakur kicked-off Day 2 of the Second Test by dismissing South Africa captain Dean Elgar on 28 and followed it by dismissing Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen in the opening session.  

The 30-year-old, continuing his fine form in the second session went on to dismiss wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne, Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi. 

Apart from Thakur, Mohammed Shami scalped two wickets while Jasprit Bumrah picked one as the hosts posted 229/10 in response to India’s first-inning total of 202, taking a fine lead of 27 runs.