India benefited from the four changes they made to their player XI in the third ODI against Australia in Canberra on Wednesday. India dropped Mayank Agarwal, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal and Navdeep Saini and replaced them with Shubman Gill, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur, with the four additions contributing enormously to India’s 13-race victory.
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Gill looked like a million dollars during his 33 innings, while Kuldeep finished 1/57 on Cameron Green’s wicket. Making his debut in India, Natarajan won 2/70. But it was Shardul Thakur’s 3/51 that really helped India stay on their nerves while defending 302. Thakur picked up Steve Smith’s key window and knocked out a set by Moises Henriques and later Sean Abbott.
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His performance has impressed former Australian off-roader Tom Moody, who called Thakur an “exciting package”, believing that the fast 29-year-old could be a crucial part of India’s ODI setup going forward.
Thakur played very well. It brings a point of difference to that side that I quite like. I know Saini played the first two games and they are assigning him for test matches, but I think Thakur provides a good point of difference in ODI cricket, ”Moody told ESPNCricinfo.
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Moody recognizes that Thakur has many variations, allowing him the option of having many ways to get wicket. “He has a good change of pace, he has the yorker, he can also move the ball, which is important if there is something to offer in the air. Has the skills to swing the ball. For me, it is an exciting package because it has many ways to get land, “he added.
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