Former India left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan has showered praise on seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his match-winning contributions. Analysing the Mumbai Indians' thrilling six-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 campaign opener, Pathan highlighted Thakur's mental toughness. He noted that the all-rounder never gets intimidated or flustered on the field, even when aggressive opposition batters are actively trying to take him apart.
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Irfan Pathan all praise for Shardul Thakur
Thakur’s nerves of steel paid off handsomely at the Wankhede Stadium, where he returned impressive figures of 3 for 39. His clinical bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award and guided the five-time champions to a victorious start. The win was particularly historic for the franchise, as it officially broke Mumbai Indians' infamous 14-year jinx of losing their opening game of the tournament.
"He's not a bowler who gets intimidated, even when batters are attacking. He keeps coming at you. What stands out is how he uses his variations. Every time he starts his run-up, he's already changing his grip, whether it's for a slower ball, cross-seam, or even a scrambled-seam delivery," Pathan said on JioStar.
"He's always trying to make something happen. He invites batters to go for big shots and thrives on that. He doesn't have express pace or big swing, but he's constantly experimenting with different lengths and speeds, and that's why he keeps picking up wickets," he added.
Ryan Rickelton too earns Pathan's praise
He also lauded wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton for his commanding 81-run performance and his role in a devastating 148-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, who contributed a blistering 61 of his own. Earning his spot in the playing XI over fellow South African Quinton de Kock, Rickelton justified the decision by showcasing a wide range of strokes and a very clear, aggressive plan against the spinners.
"Ryan Rickelton was outstanding. We spoke before the game about his form being better than Quinton de Kock's, and he showed exactly why. He has a wider range, especially on the off side. That six over cover was a special shot. His shoulder alignment allows him to access those areas consistently and play in front of the wicket with control. Against spin, he was very clear - attacking from the first ball and looking for the slog sweep. That intent worked for him, and on a pitch like Mumbai, his style of batting is ideally suited," Pathan concluded.