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On Sunday, March 3, Shardul Thakur spoke about how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should consider enough breaks between Ranji Trophy matches because three days of rest time, lead to injuries. The 32-year-old’s comments came after he rescued Mumbai with a brilliant hundred against Tamil Nadu on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semi-final.
After bowling out Tamil Nadu for just 146 runs in 64.1 overs on Day 1, Mumbai had a tough start with the bat at the Bandra Kurla Complex. The 41-time Ranji Trophy champions were reduced to 106/7 early on Day 2, despite Musheer Khan’s fifty at the top of the order.
It led to the arrival of Shardul Thakur to the crease, who stitched together a 105-run stand for the eighth wicket alongside Hardik Tamore, to give Mumbai the all-important first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu. During his 79-run stand with Tanush Kotian for the ninth wicket, Shardul Thakur brought up his first hundred in First-Class cricket.
Kuldeep Sen picked up the vital wicket of Shardul Thakur, but not before he scored 109 off 105, an innings which included 13 fours and five maximums. At stumps, Mumbai were 353/9 with Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande stitching together an unbeaten stand of 63 runs for the last wicket.
While speaking in an interview at the close of play on Day 2, Shardul Thakur talked up the matter of workload management for the players who are a regular part of the Ranji Trophy. He said, “BCCI should consider enough break between Ranji Trophy matches; just 3 days rest time between 9 matches could lead to a lot of injuries.”
In the other Ranji Trophy semi-final, Madhya Pradesh secured an 82-run first-innings lead against Vidarbha on Day 2 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur. At the close of play, Vidarbha were 13/1 in the second innings, trying to put up a competitive total to defend against Madhya Pradesh.