"It Was Always Meant to Be" – Thakur Relishes Comeback After Going Unsold at Auction

Thakur Embraces IPL Comeback After Going Unsold: “It Was Always on the Cards”

After going unsold at the IPL 2025 auction, Shardul Thakur was preparing for a County Championship stint with Essex. But fate had other plans. Ahead of the new season, Thakur got a call from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who brought him in as an injury replacement — a twist that has already paid dividends.

Thakur has hit the ground running, claiming six wickets in just two games at an average and economy of 8.83. On Thursday, he picked up the Purple Cap after a match-winning performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad, finishing with career-best IPL figures of 4 for 34 and reaching the milestone of 100 IPL wickets.

Speaking at the mid-innings break, Thakur reflected on the auction disappointment and the opportunity that followed. “It was just one bad day,” he said. “I didn’t get picked, but injuries opened the door. LSG reached out first — Zaheer Khan gave me a call — and from that point, it was always on the cards.”

Thakur revealed that other franchises also showed interest, but loyalty and timing made LSG the clear choice. He credited his Ranji Trophy form — 35 wickets in nine matches, plus valuable lower-order runs — for keeping him prepared and visible.

“Zaheer called during the Ranji knockouts and told me to stay ready, that I might start if I join. That’s when the IPL mindset kicked back in,” Thakur said after collecting his Player-of-the-Match award.

Originally set to represent Essex in April and May, Thakur will now remain with LSG through the IPL season. He was brought in to replace injured left-arm quick Mohsin Khan, who tore his ACL in December.

Against SRH, Thakur made a huge impact, removing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in successive deliveries, then striking late to dismiss Abhinav Manohar and Mohammed Shami. His plan? Go hard.

“They’ve been going hard at bowlers, so we decided to return the favour,” he explained. “We backed ourselves to take early wickets, and things clicked for us.”

LSG batter Mitchell Marsh, who hit a match-winning half-century in the chase, praised Thakur’s effort: “He bowled outstandingly and really set the tone early. His experience showed.”

Thakur, ever humble, brushed off personal milestones: “It’s great to be on the scoresheet, but for me, it’s about creating match-winning moments. That’s the attitude I carry — just keep doing something for the team.”

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