Shardul Thakur's impressive spell on the second day's wicket at the Wanderers has helped India regain control of the second Test of the three-match series against South Africa.
The 30-year-old Shardul picked his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket to push the hosts on the backfoot at the Wanderers.
It all started with Shardul removing SA skipper Dean Elgar, who nicked it behind for Rishabh Pant to pouch an easy catch. The gritty 74-run stand between Elgar and Keegan Petersen was broken by Shardul and he followed it up with two more wickets.
Often hailed as the man with the golden arm, Shardul then removed Petersen. The well-set South African batter was batting on 62 when he went to drive a length delivery that was pitched slightly wide. He nicked it to Mayank Agarwal at the second slip as the Indian camp erupted in joy.
Shardul's wicket-taking spree continued further as he plucked the wicket of Rassie van der Dussen, completing India's remarkable turnaround on the second day of the Test. Batting on 1 off 17 deliveries, van der Dussen got an inside edge before Pant managed to get his gloves under the ball and complete the catch.
Shardul picked up two more wickets – Kyle Verreynne (21) and Temba Bavuma (51) -- before tea to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
6/53 A Kumble 1992/935/104 J Srinath 1996/975/40 S Sreesanth 2006/075/54 J Bumrah 2017/185/29 Mohd Shami 2017/18Shardul became the sixth bowler to take a five wicket haul at the bull ring