Shardul Thakur kept on learning: Childhood coach Dinesh Lad elated as India star picks maiden 7-wicket haul

Shardul Thakur's childhood coach Dinesh Lad said that the India star never really had to do anything special to mould the driven all-rounder except for "working on his mental strength".

Shardul Thakur's childhood coach Dinesh Lad was proud of his student after the star bowler returned with his maiden seven-wicket haul to bowl out South Africa for 229 on the second day of the second Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Thakur posted career-best figures of 7-61 -- the best return by an Indian bowler in a Test against South Africa -- and single-handedly removed the home top order. Lad opened up on Shardul's cricketing journey, saying he never really had to do anything special to mold the driven all-rounder except for "working on his mental strength".