'Wasn't my plan' - Rohit Sharma gives insights on Tom Latham's wicket, credits Shardul Thakur and Virat Kohli

India won the ODI series against New Zealand after crushing Tom Latham and his men in the final contest on January 24, Tuesday by 90 runs. To add more, it was Shardul Thakur who brought the Indian team back into the game after picking up Daryl Mitchell and Tom Latham’s wickets in two consecutive balls. Much to the delight of the Indian fans, Thakur carried on with the momentum and clinched the wicket of Glenn Phillips as well. 

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The Men in Blue were brimming with confidence after putting on 385 runs on the board at the end of the first innings with Rohit Sharma scoring 100 and Shubman Gill gathering 112 to their names. It was India’s day in the office as the Kiwis lost the game despite a heroic 138 from their star opener Devon Conway. 

Thakur, who showed up for the chat post the conclusion of the game, opened up on framing Latham’s wicket after discussions with skipper Rohit, former captain and superstar Virat Kohli and potential future captain Hardik Pandya. The right-armer was awarded the Player of the Match for his valiant spell that changed the fortunes of India.  

Watch Shardul Thakur explaining Tom Latham’s wicket here: 

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Interview of Man of the match Shardul Thakur. pic.twitter.com/j29ssEiG3U

— Cricket is Love ❤ (@cricketfan__) January 25, 2023

It wasn't my plan: Rohit Sharma

Post the conclusion of the final ODI at Indore, the Indian skipper said at the post-match presentation that the Indian camp used to call Shardul, a magician. Delighted by the spell against the fiery Black Caps batters, Rohit hoped and wished the right-armer to carry on with the form in the upcoming games as well. With the 50-over World Cup set to take place later in the year at home, Shardul would hope to cement his place as a backup pacer in the squad. Rohit, on the other hand, claimed that he had no role to play and the plan to dismiss Latham was rather Thakur, Kohli and Pandya's.

Rohit Sharma said, "Shardul Thakur was a part of some good plan and executed it well. It wasn't my plan, it was between him, Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya"

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 25, 2023

"Before coming to this match, he played a lot of domestic cricket but he is very smart and knows what is expected of him. Shardul definitely has some skills. The knuckle delivery, which was good, that he bowled to Tom Latham was well planned in the middle. It wasn't my plan; it was Virat (Kohli), Shardul and Hardik's idea. It is a plan that worked out really well and we all are really happy," Rohit was quoted as saying after the match in the press conference.

“Shardul has been doing it for a while. People call him magician in the squad and he came and delivered. Just need to get more games under his belt. Every time I have given Kuldeep the ball he has given breakthroughs and taken important wickets. The wrist spinners get better with game time. Gill's approach is quite similar every game,” he was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation.