Shardul Thakur has been on fire. Across formats, the all-rounder has been brilliant. He was the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai and the fourth overall in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He couldn’t replicate the same form of success in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but was still good. In the second leg of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, he has scored 254 runs in 3 innings (51, 119, and 84) and has taken 16 wickets in 5 innings, which included a six-wicket haul in the ongoing quarterfinal against Haryana.
Shardul Thakur IPL auction snub
For the unaware, Shardul wasn’t picked up by any teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. The move shocked many. Yes, he hadn’t done exceedingly well in the IPL, but to go unselected for an all-rounder who has the knack of picking wickets and can play cameos down the order, to not even get a team to invest Rs 2 crore, doesn’t bode well.
Shardul seemed to have taken this refusal by IPL franchises to heart. But, in a good way. He’s been on a tear since and wants to prove to them what they are missing. He still hopes that any one of the ten teams would bring him in, most likely as an injury-replacement player.
“If I get an offer (IPL contract), I’ll definitely play. It would be a great new experience,” Shardul told reporters in Kolkata.
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No IPL deal, no worry, says Shardul Thakur
But the star Mumbai all-rounder has backup plans as well. If he isn’t picked up by any team, Shardul Thakur will play in the County Championship. The two tournaments clash, and a player can’t play in both.
“Right now, there are no concrete plans, but county cricket has 6-7 matches around that time. If selected, it will help me adjust to English conditions before the (England) tour,” he said.
Shardul is also certain that he’s in contention to make India’s squad for the England Test tour considering how well he’s performed in the Ranji Trophy so far. As is the case for most domestic cricketers, he wants to represent Team India at the highest level, and that goal hasn’t changed.
“Yes, absolutely. I believe I’m in contention. The next step is to make my place in the team and earn selection. That’s always the goal. Right now, I’m playing at the Ranji Trophy level. International cricket is the highest level we all strive for. It’s always on my mind, it’s the motivation to play for the country that drives me forward. That passion, that fire, never fades,” the all-rounder concluded.
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