Veteran all-rounder Shardul Thakur thinks a player should be given a longer run in the Indian team, if he has the required ‘quality’. Thakur’s strong opinion came in his interaction with the media after the conclusion of the first day of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game between Mumbai and Jammu & Kashmir in Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai.
Thakur came to the rescue for the Mumbai team, who were stuttering at 47/7, with the dismissals of their star batters like Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube. He played a valiant knock by playing counter-attacking cricket, synonymous with his playing style. He slammed 51 off 57, with five fours and two sixes, before getting dismissed by Yudhvir Singh Charak.
Shardul Thakur’s 63-run stand with Tanush Kotian (26) helped Mumbai to post a respectable total of 120. Then, Thakur picked two wickets with the ball, as J & K managed to secure a 86-run first innings lead.
Thakur’s last test appearance came in December 2023 against South Africa in Centurion, where he scored 26 runs and picked a solitary wicket. During his interaction with reporters, the 33-year-old emphasized that he holds an advantage over other Indian hopefuls due to his ability to contribute to the team in difficult situations.
“What can I talk about my quality? Others should talk about it. They should see that if someone has quality, he should be given more chances,” Thakur told the media.
“I like batting in difficult situations. In easy situations, everyone does well, but how you put up the show in adverse situations matters. I see tough situations as a challenge and always think about how to overcome that challenge,” he added.
Notably, Thakur’s sensational knock of 67 off 115 against Australia in January 2021 helped India breach the Gabba fortress and win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21.
Shardul Thakur went unsold in IPL 2025 auction

Notably, Shardul Thakur remained unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. He entered at the base price of INR 2 crore, but found no interest from the franchises. During the aforementioned interaction, Thakur reflected on his IPL snub and feels it’s critical to forget the past and keep striving for producing your best in the present.
“You have to forget whatever has happened in the past; it is not going to change. It is important to be in the present and think about what you can do in the near future,” he said.
So far, Shardul Thakur has represented five teams and scalped 94 wickets and scored 307 runs in 95 games in the cash-rich league. His last appearance came for the Chennai Super Kings in the 2024 season, where he could pick up only five wickets in nine games at an abysmal average of 61.80.