Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 28: Shardul Thakur has revealed how he got back into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mindset after going unsold in last year’s mega auction in Jeddah.
With a base price of Rs 2 crore, no franchise bid for Thakur, leading him to prepare for a County Championship stint with Essex. However, his plans took a turn when Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) approached him as an injury replacement for Mohsin Khan, who tore his ACL during the Vijay Hazare Trophy on December 31.
Since his return, Thakur has been in stellar form, emerging as the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with six wickets in two games, averaging 8.83 with an identical economy rate. He claimed the Purple Cap after taking 4/34 in LSG’s five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
First Call Came from LSG Mentor Zaheer Khan
Speaking about his IPL return, Thakur disclosed that multiple franchises reached out, but the first call came from LSG mentor Zaheer Khan.
“It was just one bad day in the auction. Unfortunately, I wasn’t picked, but then injuries happened, and inquiries started coming in. LSG approached me first, and since I was closely working with Zaheer Khan, I had to give them preference. He called me, and it was always on the cards,” Thakur told the host broadcaster during the match.
He further emphasized that talent and skill never fade; it’s just about form and overcoming bad days in cricket.
Ranji Trophy Knockouts Sparked IPL Mindset Again
The 33-year-old revealed that his potential IPL return was hinted at during the Ranji Trophy knockout phase, where he took 35 wickets in nine matches and contributed with the bat.
“Zaheer called me during the Ranji Trophy knockouts and told me to stay prepared as a potential replacement. That was the moment I started getting into the IPL mindset again, and my hopes reignited,” he shared.
With his IPL comeback, Thakur will no longer be available for Essex and will remain with LSG until the end of their campaign.
Shardul Thakur’s Career-Best IPL Figures and 100-Wicket Milestone
Thakur delivered a career-best IPL performance against SRH, taking crucial wickets, including Abhishek Sharma (6), Ishan Kishan (0), Abhinav Manohar, and Mohammed Shami. His efforts also saw him reach the 100-wicket milestone in IPL history.
Despite the personal achievement, Thakur remains focused on team success:
“Winning the game is more important for me. I always look to create an impact and deliver match-winning performances rather than just focusing on wickets or runs.”
Aggressive Approach Against SRH Batters
Thakur credited LSG’s game plan of taking an aggressive approach against SRH’s power-hitters.
“They [SRH batters] come hard at bowlers, so why not bowlers go hard at them? The plan was to take our chances and get early wickets, and today, it worked in our favor,” he concluded.