Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], March 28: Shardul Thakur has made a stunning comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, emerging as the leading wicket-taker after going unsold in the Jeddah mega auction last year.
With a base price of ₹2 crore, Thakur found no takers in the auction and began preparing for a County Championship stint with Essex. However, his fortunes changed when Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) approached him as an injury replacement for Mohsin Khan, who suffered an ACL tear on December 31 during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Now, the seasoned all-rounder leads the bowling charts with six wickets in two games, boasting an average and economy rate of 8.83.
First Call from LSG Mentor Zaheer Khan
Thakur revealed that multiple franchises inquired about him, but the first call came from LSG mentor Zaheer Khan.
“It was just one bad day at the auction. I didn’t get picked, but then injuries happened, and inquiries started coming in. LSG was the first to approach me, 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.
He emphasized that talent and skill never fade, and setbacks are just a part of cricket.
Ranji Trophy Form Reignites IPL Hopes
The 33-year-old pacer credited his strong performances in the Ranji Trophy knockout phase for keeping him in the game. He took 35 wickets in nine matches while making crucial lower-order contributions with the bat.
“Zaheer called me during the Ranji 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 return to the IPL, Thakur will no longer be available for Essex and will stay with LSG for the entire season.
Career-Best IPL Figures and 100-Wicket Milestone
Thakur delivered his career-best IPL figures (4/34) against SRH, helping LSG secure a five-wicket victory. His spell included dismissing power-hitters Abhishek Sharma (6), Ishan Kishan (0), Abhinav Manohar, and Mohammed Shami.
This performance also saw him reach the 100-wicket milestone in IPL history.
Despite the personal milestone, Thakur remains focused on winning games over individual records:
“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
Thakur credited LSG’s strategy of taking an aggressive approach against SRH’s power-hitters.
“They come hard at bowlers, so why not bowlers go hard at them? Our plan was to take chances and get early wickets, and today, it worked in our favor,” he concluded.