Shardul Thakur carries vivid memories of India’s 2021 tour of England, a series where he emerged as one of the unexpected heroes. Now, as he gears up for another battle in the English summer, those performances remain etched in his memory, particularly his all-round brilliance at the Kennington Oval, which helped India script a famous 157-run win.

Back in the squad for the current series, Thakur reflected on what made that tour so unforgettable. “I think the 2021 series, where we won a couple of games, the first one we could have won too, but unfortunately it rained on the last day and we couldn`t chase down the total. Then we won at Lord`s, followed by the Oval. Later, we returned for the fifth Test next year, and the series ended 2-2. That series remains one of the fondest memories of my career, definitely one of the best I`ve been a part of,” he said.

At The Oval, Thakur delivered under pressure, first rescuing India with a blistering 57 off just 36 balls in the first innings when the visitors were struggling. His aggressive knock turned the tide and gave India much-needed momentum. He followed it up with another impactful 60 from 72 balls in the second innings, showcasing not just resilience but intent. Adding to his heroics with the bat, Thakur claimed two crucial wickets during England’s fourth-innings chase, including that of Joe Root, the then-captain and batting mainstay.