While everyone was talking about Suryakumar Yadav’s comeback and Shivam Dube’s batting, Shardul Thakur was making his own statement on the cricket field. Just a week after being left unsold in the IPL auction and bowling the most expensive spell in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), Thakur delivered a performance that must leave every IPL franchise gutted.
Shardul Thakur delivers and how!
In the match against Services on December 3, Thakur showed exactly why he remains a valuable player in Indian cricket. After a tough week that saw him go unsold in the IPL auction and suffer a horrendous bowling performance, he bounced back with an impressive four-wicket haul that turned the match around.
Mumbai’s batting had already set a strong foundation, with Suryakumar Yadav scoring 70 runs and Shivam Dube remaining unbeaten on 71. But it was Thakur who truly stole the show with his bowling. In just two overs, he dismantled Services’ top order, taking four wickets and conceding only 25 runs (in 4 overs). His spell, combined with Shams Mulani’s three wickets, helped Mumbai win the match by 39 runs. Thakur made the ball dance to his tunes early on. While three of his wickets came via catches, he was superb in the powerplay.
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Shardul Thakur has still got it!
This performance was particularly meaningful for Thakur. At 32 years old, he’s a seasoned player who has previously played for top IPL teams like Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals. Being left unsold in the auction was a massive blow, notwithstanding his most recent bowling performance, where he conceded 69 runs against Kerala.
But Thakur proved why he’s considered a fighter in cricket. Instead of letting the setbacks discourage him, he used them as motivation. His four-wicket spell against Services was a clear message to IPL teams: he’s still a force to be reckoned with.
Shardul Thakur IPL record
| Mat | Runs | Average | Batting SR | 100s & 50s | Wickets | Economy | Bowling SR | 4w & 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 307 | 12.28 | 138.91 | 0 & 1 | 94 | 9.22 | 30.52 | 1 & 0 |
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