Looks like Shardul Thakur is on a mission as he continues to dazzle in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season with his superlative all-round show to send Indian selectors a timely reminder. Despite recent setbacks in international cricket and the IPL, he's delivering impressive performances for Mumbai domestically. His Ranji Trophy showings are turning heads, building on his strong form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he excelled with both bat and ball. The match against Jammu and Kashmir was a particularly memorable one for Thakur's batting.
While renowned players like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ajinkya Rahane struggled to make an impact, Thakur shone brightly, rescuing Mumbai's innings not once, but twice. In the first innings, his crucial 51 runs helped his side recover from a precarious 47/7 to post a respectable 120 when no other Mumbai batter managed to reach even the 30-run mark in that innings.
Mumbai found themselves in trouble again in the second innings, slumping to 101/7. Once more, Thakur, who remained unsold in IPL 2025 auction, came to the rescue, this time with a stunning century. His 119-run innings wasn't enough to secure a win for Mumbai, but it showcased his batting prowess.
Shardul Thakur's heroic act for Mumbai continues in Ranji Trophy
Thakur's heroics for Mumbai continued in their subsequent Ranji Trophy match against Meghalaya. After Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane chose to bowl first, Thakur quickly justified the decision. The all-rounder ripped through Meghalaya's batting lineup, taking a sensational hat-trick in just his second over. After dismissing opener Nishanta Chakraborty for a duck in the first over, Thakur then removed B Anirudh, Sumit Kumar, and Jaskirat Singh on consecutive deliveries in the second over to complete his hat-trick. His devastating spell helped Mumbai dismiss Meghalaya for a meager 86 runs. Shardul Thakur's contributions to the match weren't limited to his first-day bowling heroics. On day two, he made a significant impact with the bat, smashing a whirlwind half-century that firmly placed Mumbai in a commanding position.
Thakur came to the crease with Mumbai at 458/6, a perfect platform for his aggressive batting style. He didn't disappoint, unleashing a barrage of strokes to score 84 runs off just 42 balls. His explosive innings included nine fours and five sixes. Meghalaya finally managed to dismiss him with Mumbai's score at 614, but the damage had been done.
