Shardul Thakur: From IPL Snub to Historic Ranji Trophy Hat-Trick

Blake Meyer 30 January 2025, 14:40

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Shardul Thakur: From IPL Snub to Historic Ranji Trophy Hat-Trick — Photo by Mint

Ignored at the IPL 2025 auction, Shardul Thakur silenced his critics with a stunning hat-trick in a crucial Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai. Will this performance bring him back into the spotlight?

Shardul Thakur, overlooked at the IPL 2025 auction, proved his skill in the Ranji Trophy by taking a hat-trick for Mumbai against Meghalaya. The decisive match took place at the Sharad Pawar Academy. Opening the bowling, Thakur dismissed Anirudh B., Sumit Kumar, and Jaskirat in the third over before removing Nishant Chakraborty on the fourth delivery. Following Rishi Dhawan, he became the second 2024/25 season bowler to achieve this feat.

The 33-year-old also joined an elite group of Mumbai bowlers with Ranji Trophy hat-tricks. So far this season, Thakur has taken 20 wickets and scored 297 runs. Alongside Mohit Avasthi (2-20), he helped Mumbai reduce Meghalaya to 29-6.

Mumbai now needs a bonus-point victory to tie with J&K, hoping Baroda does not earn more than one point.