Medium pacer Shardul Thakur was a happy man after his heroics laid the foundation of India's clinical six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fourth T20I of the ongoing Nidahas Trophy T20 tri-series.
India defeated Sri Lanka on Monday at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to continue their their winning run in the Nidahas Twenty20 Tri-Series.
Thakur, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, said he was happy to fulfill his dream of winning a match for India.
"I loved it. Happy to receive the award. Always dreamt of winning a game for India and here I am. Frankly there were some nerves but no pressure. Nothing special, we just discussed how to execute our plans and it worked out for the better," Thakur said after the match.
Opting to bowl, young Shardul Thakur (4/27) registered his best T20 bowling figures as Sri Lanka lost their way in the middle overs after Kusal Mendis' fifty to be restricted to 152 for nine. The match was reduced to 19-overs-a-side affair after over an hour was lost due to rain.
Chasing the modest target, India overcame early jitters riding on Manish Pandey's unbeaten 42 and Dinesh Karthik's 39 not out to overwhelm Sri Lanka's total with nine balls to spare.
The 26-year-old Thakur, playing in just his second overseas tour, led from the front as India pulled things back after Kusal Mendis' 55 off 38 balls.
Thakur returned with impressive figures of 4/27, while young off-spinner Washinton Sundar (2/21) scalped two wickets as India made a strong fightback after leaking runs in the first 10 overs.
Vijay Shankar (1/30), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/34) and Jaydev Unadkat (1/33) also accounted for a wicket each.
