India pacer Shardul Thakur’s father, Narendra, 73, has credited Team India captain Virat Kohli and IPL team Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni for boosting his son’s confidence. Thakur, 29, emerged the highest wicket-taker with eight scalps in the recently concluded India v England T20I series, which the hosts won 3-2. 

“The captain’s support and guidance from the seniors in the team have played a very important role in boosting Shardul’s confidence. He has benefited a lot from it. In the IPL, Dhoni mostly used him in the 17th or 19th over, while Kohli wants him to bowl in the last four overs. He has a very effective slower and knuckleball and he proved that he can bowl in the death overs,” Thakur Sr told mid-day.com.