Being a typical Mumbaikar, Shardul Thakur, who was part of the India team on tour of South Africa, has spent most of his playing days travelling 1 and a half hours in a local train from Mumbai to Palghar.
Doing his usual after deboarding off the flight from South Africa to India, Thakur said that he went straight from “business class to first class” as he boarded the local train back home after reaching Mumbai. The limited-overs format pacer spoke to The Indian Express about his experience with the local train this time around. He said people acknowledged that a daily commuter of the local trains is now playing for the national team.
“…I boarded the train in Andheri after getting off the flight from South Africa. Straight from business class to first-class. I had my headphones on and just wanted to get home soon. But I could sense people in the compartment looking at me and wondering whether I really was “Shardul Thakur”,” the 26-year old said.
“A few college kids then Googled my picture just to be sure and then asked for a selfie. I told all of them to wait till I got off at Palghar. Many were amazed that an India cricketer was travelling with them. Some old-timers were recalling how they’ve been seeing me on the train for years. But my feet remain very grounded. I have not received anything on a platter and worked hard for it,” he added.
