Third Front: Shardul "ready to step up" in Bhuvi, Bumrah's absence

Shardul Thakur knows that opportunities in a settled limited overs line-up won't come easily and that's the reason he is ready to "step up" in an unenvious role of India's stop-gap third seamer in absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.

Thakur's four wicket haul was instrumental in India restricting Sri Lanka to a moderate 152 and he deservingly got the man-of-the-match award after his team's six-wicket win in the third round robin match of the Nidahas T20 Tri Series.

Asked about the challenge of being a back-up pacer, the Mumbai speedster replied:"I have told one thing before: I love challenges. I am taking it as a challenge."
"I have been practising it for a long time. It didn't come easily. Whenever I found time to play with white ball while playing domestic cricket, I used to try knuckle ball. Probably for two years, I have been practising it now."