HAVING impressed the national selectors with his knack of taking wickets, Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur made his India debut at Harare Sports Club ground in Zimbabwe on Saturday. The right-arm seamer became sixth Vidarbha cricketer to don India colours as he was named in the playing XI in India’s second Twenty20 International against the hosts. Chasing India’s 219-5, Zimbabwe innings folded at 129 in 17.5 overs as India completed 90-run win to secure series 2-0. Skipper Shreyas Iyer showed his confidence in the debutant and handed him the second over asking him to bowl in the powerplay. And, the bowler did not disappoint. Thakur almost had his maiden international wicket on the second ball. But Tilak Varma made a mess of an absolute dolly giving reprieve to Zimbabwean opener Ben Bennett. Bennett scored a four and a six off Thakur but perished as the bowler had the last laugh in the next over.

 

Bennett was caught in two minds and ended up lobbing a scoop to Ishan Kishan behind the stumps. Aggressive on the field but a very humble and down to earth boy in reality, Thakur was quick to give credit to the sport that has given him a big name, followed by the family which always stood by him in all trying circumstances. “I’m really grateful to have got the opportunity to play this game. I’m also really grateful to my family and my close ones, who have always supported me,” said Thakur, who lost his father last year, after the match. It was his father’s dream that he played for India. On his first T20I wicket and the plan against Bennett, Thakur, who picked up 2-30 from his four overs, shared, shared, “I think the wicket was really good to bat on.

 

Me and Shreyas bhai discussed our plans before the spell and we stuck to those. We felt the slower ball would be a very effective option on this wicket, so we backed it, and it worked for us.” The athletically-built Thakur, who was part of India ‘A’ squad that toured Sri Lanka for one-dayers and four-day ‘Tests’, said he liked all formats of the game. “Last month I was playing for India A in Sri Lanka. I played both the one-dayers and ‘Tests’ there. I always keep my plans ready for both white-ball and red-ball cricket. I enjoy both. I just want to play the game,” Thakur concluded. Thakur received his maiden national call-up early this month following impressive stints in domestic cricket and IPL teams like Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings. This is perhaps the best time for Vidarbha cricket as two young players made their debuts inside a month. All-rounder Harsh Dubey, who is also part of the current Indian squad in Zimbabwe, made his One-Day International last month against Afghanistan at Dharamsala. Thakur became sixth Vidarbha cricketer after Prashant Vaidya, Umesh Yadav, Faiz Fazal, Jitesh Sharma and Dubey to play for the nation.