Shardul Thakur saved on studying: Childhood coach Dinesh Lad elated as India star picks maiden 7-wicket haul

Shardul Thakur’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad was happy with his pupil after the star bowler returned together with his maiden seven-wicket haul to bowl out South Africa for 229 on the second day of the second Test on the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Thakur posted career-best figures of 7-61 — the perfect return by an Indian bowler in a Test towards South Africa — and single-handedly eliminated the house high order. Lad opened up on Shardul’s cricketing journey, saying he by no means actually needed to do something particular to mould the pushed all-rounder aside from “working on his mental strength”.SA vs IND, 2nd Test Day 2: Report | Highlights”I did no specific work with him, but (I worked) on his mental strength. I remember when he was taken for the IPL, and he didn’t play for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), he would be frustrated and say ‘they don’t play me’,” Lad was quoted as saying by information company PTI.”I used to tell him it’s okay, they have selected you and it is important for you to practise with bigger players.”‘Don’t do something completely different’Lad revealed that he had only one recommendation for Shardul after he made the nationwide breakthrough — “don’t do anything different”.”When he was (first) selected for the West Indies tour, at that time I only told him not to do anything different. The way you have bowled in the Ranji Trophy till now, the same way you have to bowl,” he recalled.”You have now become big (and) at that moment, you will do something different and that will affect your bowling. Better way, do the same things, by which you have grown up and he kept listening (to the advice),” revealed Lad, one of many most interesting coaches on the home circuit.”There was no specific discussion, he kept on learning. About bowling, I told him to make the batter play, the more you make the batter play, the more the chances of you getting wickets,” quipped Lad.”I modified his top-end grip and he benefited from it. But he labored on it, he understood what I used to be saying and he labored on it. He was a hard-hitting batter, however as soon as he began taking part in with a straight bat, he received to know that he might keep on the wicket and do something,” recollected Lad.Shardul, who has now played in all three formats for India and is a regular member of the national team, hails from Palghar but it was on the insistence of Lad that he stayed at his Mumbai house.”When I noticed him, he performed in a match towards my college, after that I insisted that (he ought to stick with me) as touring was a difficulty. I satisfied my spouse about Shardul staying at our place.”One thing I am proud of is that I knew that this kid would do wonders and hence I kept him at my place,” stated Lad.”Had I not taken that decision at that time, maybe Shardul would have played there ( in his town). My vision was if this boy came to Mumbai, he would play big cricket and since it was fulfilled, I was elated,” Lad stated.”Shardul justified his talent. Had I not brought him to Mumbai, no one would have seen Shardul,” Lad signed off.