Shardul Thakur starred with the bat for India with a quickfire 57 off just 36 balls even as the other Indian batsmen capitulated yet again to see the team get bowled out for 191 in the first innings of the fourth Test against England at The Oval. Thakur's fifty was also the fastest by any batsman on English soil as it came off just 31 balls. India's position would have been more precarious if not for Thakur's knock that was studded with seven fours and three sixes. And despite the batting collapse all around him, Thakur's knock garnered praise from experts and fans alike on social media with Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians leading the way.
Indian wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik was wowed by Thakur's innings.
Others hailed the unique record that Thakur owned of hitting the fastest fifty by any batsman on English soil.
Kolkata Knight Riders also posted in appreciation of Thakur's stupendous knock.
Thakur was the only batsman beside skipper Virat Kohli to play a knock of substance on the first day of the Test as the Indian batting line-up endured yet another collapse.