After a humiliating loss at Headingley, Indians were expected to come out all guns blazing at England. However, Kohli's luck with the toss lasted only one game as the coin fell in Root’s favour who had no hesitation in putting India in on a difficult wicket. India’s vulnerability against the swinging ball was once again exposed as barring Kohli, all the specialist batters didn’t add anything substantial to the score.
Just as when it looked like India will be bowled out for another low score, Shardul Thakur walked in, not with a bat but a sword in hand and launched a brutal assault on England bowlers. Thakur’s 57 off 36 balls helped India post a half decent 191. At the end of the day’s play, Thakur was asked if the responsibility of scoring runs every time adds to the pressure to which the all-rounder responded by saying when one is entrusted with responsibility, he has to perform by hook or crook.
"You have to take responsibility whether you are a pacer or a batter. If you are playing for India, so whenever you get a chance you have to shoulder responsibility by hook or by crook," Thakur said "For me, it was a challenge and whenever I get to bat, I have to create such an impact that it opens the door for my team's victory," the Mumbai all-rounder said having already hit a fifty in India's victory in Brisbane this year.”
India made a surprising move and sent Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant. Explaining the move, Shardul said the management wanted the left-right combination going.
"Whether Rishabh (Pant) goes or Jaddu goes, it doesn't really matter. We have seen Jadeja score crucial runs and bat patiently. It was just to use left-right combo, we send him up the order," said Thakur
Speaking about his knock, Thakur said his coaches always told him to play straight in England and he tried to do that which paid off. He also revealed that the pull shot he stroked to get to his fifty is the best of them all.