The only bowler to play in all the matches so far in one of Mumbaiās toughest seasons, Shardul Thakurās performances have stood out as the 40-time champions strive to keep their campaign alive in 2014-15. After the first round loss to J&K at home, the 23-year old pacer helped Mumbai draw the second game against Railways in Delhi and took the team to their first win of the season in the third. His Man of the match performance in the victory against Uttar Pradesh in UP helped the team stay afloat. He also played a vital role in the victory over Baroda in Vadodara in the penultimate round that has helped the side stay in the race for the knockouts.
The Aditya Tare-led side will now look to pull-off a win against defending champions Karnataka as they hope to book a place in the quarter-finals (Mumbai are currently at No 4 position and a point behind Baroda). Although there is a bit of nervousness like Thakur said, the young Mumbai side will be keen to turn things around at the Wankhede Stadium. Leading the attack against the strong batting line-up will be Thakur who has emerged as the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai with 31 wickets from seven games besides contributing with the bat. Bowling in the 130s the pacer has worked on combining pace with swing and zestfully led the Mumbai attack in absence of Dhawal Kulkarni and co.
In an interview with bcci.tv Thakur spoke about cherishing the challenge of performing under pressure.
Excerpts from the interview:
You have been responsible for keeping Mumbaiās hopes alive this season, how do you see the role?
I think it was important to deliver at the right time because as we know there were no senior players (on most occasions) this season. Wasim Jaffer got injured, Abhishek Nayar was also in and out because of niggles, Dhawal (Kulkarni) is with the Indian team and even Zaheer Khan wasnāt there so it was important for me to deliver at the right times. I think whatever we worked on together as a team and at the individual level during the off-season and just before the start of the tournament is helping.
Performing under pressure how are you coping with it and what do you tell yourself at those times?
As a player it is more important to perform under pressure because as we keep playing on at higher levels there are bound to be pressure situations. I think this is just a start. If I can take pressure and perform at this level only then can I go higher and perform in the pressure situations. So it is important to perform now.
What do you tell yourself?
I think sticking to my basics is the key. I feel, in the pressure situations if you get carried away, try too many things then obviously it wonāt work out every time. But if you want results on your side most of the time then we really have to stick to our basics.
Your contribution with the bat has been as crucial to the team as with the ball ā do you also have the role of an all-rounder in the side?
I obviously look at myself as a bowling all-rounder. Although the recent scores donāt show that but definitely I will work on it and come as a better batsman too.
How do you plan for the wickets and setting-up the batsman while in the middle?
The plan depends on the situations and also the pitch conditions. When we played in Chennai the pitch was totally different. The ball was turning a lot and also there was something for the fast bowler, if a fast bowler bowls cutters. So I had to change my bowling there. I had to bowl a lot of cutters and I got couple of wickets there. I think it was good to get a couple of wickets on those tracks.
Then in the Baroda game, the Moti Bagh pitch was two-paced. There were cracks on the pitch so there was something really happening from those cracks. It was important to pitch the ball in those cracks and the ball wasnāt swinging much, but the slight deviation from the crack was forcing a nick from the batsmanās bat so it was important at the time to bowl in those cracks. So according to the pitch, the playing conditions and the situation in the middle, how the opponents are poised at the time I plan a wicket.
What is your stock delivery?
The out-swinger.
What are the new things that you are working on?
This season I am bowling the in-swingers also along with out-swingers which I was lacking last season. Last season I bowled out-swingers 90% of the time but this season it was a mixture of in-swingers and out-swingers whenever required.
What have been the tips from Mumbai bowling coach - Omkar Salvi?
He generally tries to keep it simple. He makes us practice with the cones placed. He allows us to get the feel of whether our bowling action is going correct or our run-up is correct. He works that way. And after the nets also he gets us to do some skill work.
You are leading the Mumbai attack and the others bowl around you, coach Amre too acknowledges the fact. How do you see the role?
I think it had to happen. Dhawal is not there, Zaheer is also not there so the key for me was to take that responsibility. I take the added responsibility as a challenge. In the first game Dhawal was there and both of us shared the overs. I am trying to keep up the hopes.
What has been the coachās advise?
He backs me and tells me to back my strengths. Keep coming at the batsman every time. Am the sort who comes at the batsman each and every ball I bowl.
So you focus on taking wickets?
Yes
What has been senior pacer Zaheer Khanās advise?
Whatever he told us in the match is crucial. During matches we have had a lot of conversations and he always helped me in each and every session like morning session, afternoon session and evening sessions. Firstly, he told me to check your bowling action timing. If that is good then you will at least look good (when you) bowl on each and every pitch. Result is later part.
During the match he would tell us about bowling according to the sessions. The pitch changes a lot during all three sessions and I played with him at Wankhede only and he was of great help during the course of the match.
How important is pace to you?
Pace is important. I focus more on swing but at the same time I keep bowling fast as well because I donāt want to lose pace. I want to swing the ball at good pace so I will rate pace very high. I focus on bowling fast and swinging the ball.
How do you work on combining the two?
Whatever fitness I have achieved in the off-season I am maintaining that during the break between the two matches with my trainer Rahul (Patwardhan) and also few exercises during the match so I am keeping my strength levels high so thatās helping me.
