Rohit Sharma turned to his old friend Shardul Thakur for a breakthrough when his other options ran out.

India's Shardul Thakur on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, during the first one-day international cricket match between India and New Zealand.

He has a gift for taking wickets for us at crucial times. After the third ODI between India and New Zealand, Rohit criticized Thakur. "We have seen it not only in ODI cricket but also in Test cricket," he said.

Rohit Sharma looked for bowling options as New Zealand was trying to score 385 runs at the halfway point. Yuzvendra Chahal, his preferred middle-over pick, had only been hit for 15 runs; Five had been bowled by Kuldeep Yadav; With New Zealand at 184, Washington Sundar needed wickets as a defensive option; The death overs should use Hardik's remaining six overs. He turned to face Shardul Thakur, who was standing at fine-leg.

Thakur was slightly perplexed when Rohit told him to bowl. He rarely bowls at this time, and his three overs had yielded 30 runs. However, Thakur does not shy away from a challenge. When he was a teenager in Palghar, he always tried to beat his older classmates at the maidan. He would succeed frequently. Siddhesh Lad, his coach, had previously told this newspaper: When things get tough, he will always raise his hand. He's the guy in the changing room who talks about how he could beat any batsman in the world. He is motivated by such things, and he enjoys competing with superiors.

That quality had not changed. He frequently produces something when you throw him into the deep end with the bat or the ball. An unlikely victory, an unappealing wicket, at a time when the team appears to be running out of options and steam. From nothing, out of nowhere. He is referred to as the team's magician due to his remarkable talent.

Planning behind Tom Latham's wicket 🤔

Discussions with captain @ImRo45, vice-captain @hardikpandya7 & @imVkohli 👌

An ODI series clean sweep 👏@imShard - Player of the Match from the 3⃣rd #INDvNZ ODI - sums up #TeamIndia's win in Indore 👍 👍@mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/aksvwWPRj6

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2023

He explained why. He changed the game in two balls. He dismissed Daryl Mitchell, a murderous batsman when the mood strikes him, for 24 with the first ball of the 26th over. He slipped in a bouncer, not his standard ball, but one he uses sparingly to surprise batsmen and make a powerful statement. The batsman attempted to hook, but all he was able to do was edge the keeper. Thakur pleaded for a review, and the UltraEdge showed a spike, proving Thakur's innocence to the umpire.

He slithered in a knuckleball, one of his favorite variations, on the following ball, which he hit to veteran Tom Latham. Latham was able to simply spoon the ball to mid-off as the ball entered his pads. Neither delivery was especially difficult to play. just the usual ones, but they got him wickets and changed the game. He has always presented himself as the unlikely breakthrough-provider, the third seamer, or even the fourth in red ball cricket, which has been a recurring theme throughout his career. the consolidator after the powerplay in ODIs, an afterthought in both formats when the main quicks are present. His abilities appear to be limited: he is either too quick or too slippery, does not produce devastating swing or seam movement, and does not have too many variations; He also lacks the skill to be considered a genuine all-rounder, according to some.

However, in times of trouble, he almost always succeeds, gives hope, takes wickets, scores runs, or makes spectacular catches. Similar to his two hits in the summer of 2021 in England, he took two wickets in an over twice in ODIs and Tests to change the game. His scores of 60 and 57 in the Oval and 67 in the first innings in Brisbane (2021) proved to be crucial in two of India's most memorable victories overseas. His 25 was crucial in getting India to 385 in Indore. However, despite his match-defining spark, he remains an afterthought and an always-available replacement, similar to Parthiv Patel toward the end of his career, who was neither the best nor the 21st member of the World Cup's core group of 21 players.

However, he made a strong case for his inclusion, believing that more performances of this nature would be required to secure a permanent spot. He might be tempted to be Hardik Pandya's backup, but he could also make a claim for himself. His batting adds a lot of depth because he usually bats at No. 8. He can hit cricketing shots, not just swinging the bat, stay in the game, and is unnerved when chasing, as he has shown a few times with Chennai Super Kings. He can score quickly despite lacking the power-hitting talent of Pandya.

In addition to possessing useful variations like the yorker, bouncer, which he utilized once more to dismiss Glenn Phillips, and the knuckle-ball, he can swing with the new ball and extract seam movement later on. Rohit has been paying close attention to it. He has a gift for taking wickets for us at crucial times. It has occurred in both test and one-day international cricket. I recall numerous instances in which he intervened to save us when the opposition was forming a partnership. He is very important to us because he lets us know where we stand as a team. What he brings is very important to us,” he said after the Indore series finale.

Rohit added, "He is very intelligent, he has played a lot of domestic cricket, he has come up through the ranks, and he understands what needs to be done."

India's batting takes on an indomitable air when he bats at No. 8. At this position, the best teams in the world have a batting all-rounder. Sam Curran plays this position for England; Pat Cummins of Australia and Kyle Jamieson of New Zealand, both at full strength. We will have a hard time finding a No. 8 or No. 9 batsman. Rohit stated, "His bat skills could give us an advantage at No. 8."

Although it is difficult to predict who he would replace in the first-choice eleven—there are a few candidates for the third-choice seamer's slot, but none of them possess his batting skills—Thakur would be content to contribute moments of magic, influence matches, and win man of the match checks rather than worrying about being selected for the World Cup. He would respond, "I don't think too much because as a cricketer, you have to be ready for everything." That describes the man they refer to as the magician.