Shardul Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, had an impressive all-round performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy after that. This helped him regain recognition in the shorter format of the game. Shardul Thakur, who debuted for PBKS in 2015, rose to fame with CSK mostly, particularly in their successful campaigns.
In 2018, he picked up 16 wickets and contributed with the bat when needed. His standout performance came in 2021 also, where he scalped 21 wickets, proving his value as a quality player. Despite these contributions and his big IPL experience of 95 games, he went unsold ahead of the IPL 2025 season. However, there is still a possibility of him getting into IPL 2025 as an injury replacement.
While it’s not in his hands to choose the team, there are a few franchises that could consider adding him as an injury replacement, especially those lacking all-rounders. Take a look at three teams that might turn to Shardul Thakur if they face an injury replacement scenario.
RR
It’s no secret that Rajasthan Royals lack quality all-rounders. Yes, they have players like Nitish Rana and Riyan Parag, who can bat and deliver a few overs, but the team cannot rely solely on them, especially in the middle overs.
Shardul Thakur is known for his wicket-taking ability and is popularly called a partnership breaker. He could be the right player to deliver impactful results for RR as an all-rounder. Also, with the bat, Thakur is known for scoring quick runs lower down the order, making him a genuine all-rounder, which is exactly what Rajasthan Royals need for IPL 2025.
RCB
RCB does have lethal foreign fast bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Lungi Ngidi, but they lack top-quality Indian pacers apart from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The likes of Rasikh Salam Dar and Yash Dayal are promising but largely inexperienced.
If Shardul Thakur joins the team as an injury replacement, he could address this issue by providing a reliable Indian pacer. This would allow RCB to utilise Thakur for his full four-over quota while also enabling the team to form a balanced playing XI without worrying about foreign player restrictions. Also, his proven batting skills could further strengthen the team, making him a valuable asset for RCB.
DC
The team is heavily reliant on Axar Patel when it comes to batting and controlling the middle overs. However, how many quality Indian all-rounder options do they really have? They do have names like AJay Mandal and Samir Rizvi, but these players are clearly inexperienced.
If Shardul Thakur joins as an injury replacement, it could be a big benefit to the Delhi Capitals, who are still chasing their first IPL trophy. His inclusion would not only bolster their squad but could also make him a regular in the playing XI for DC in IPL 2025.
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