From Shardul Thakur to Sherfane Rutherford, here's a look at the top players traded so far in IPL 2026 retentions. This list also includes star players like Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami

From Shardul Thakur to Sherfane Rutherford, here's a look at the top players traded so far in IPL 2026 retentions. This list also includes star players like Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami

IPL 2026 retention list: Meet top players trades so far

From Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya here is a look at five most expensive trades in IPL history. The elite list consists of names like Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan and Lockie Ferguson as the trade window IPL 2026 is about to close. 

From Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya here is a look at five most expensive trades in IPL history. The elite list consists of names like Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan and Lockie Ferguson as the trade window IPL 2026 is about to close.&nbsp;

From Cameron Green to Hardik Pandya, 5 most expensive trades in IPL history

Just two days before the IPL 2026 retention deadline, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have made the first big trade of the season by sending all-rounder Shardul Thakur to five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). The move marks Shardul’s return to his home franchise, as the right-arm quick is set to don the blue jersey. Shardul joined Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan, signing for ₹2 crore after going unsold in the mega auction.&nbsp;Despite that, he made an impact with the ball, taking 13 wickets in 10 matches, though his batting returns were modest with just 18 runs. His experience and knack for breaking partnerships, however, kept him in the spotlight as teams began planning their rosters for the next season.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sa-1st-test-eden-gardens-toss-to-feature-gold-coin-honouring-gandhi-and-mandela-1763024956576">Ind vs SA, 1st Test: Eden Gardens toss to feature gold coin honouring Gandhi and Mandela</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 NEWS 🚨 Shardul Thakur has been traded to <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mipaltan</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LucknowIPL</a>. More Details 👉 <a href="https://t.co/drd5BdO3fS">https://t.co/drd5BdO3fS</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/imShard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imShard</a> <a href="https://t.co/fG7QcIP07U">pic.twitter.com/fG7QcIP07U</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1988939920485011777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Previously, LSG and MI had been in advanced talks for several weeks before finalising the deal. This trade not only strengthens Mumbai’s bowling attack but also adds depth to their all-round options. Shardul’s ability to bowl wicket to wicket and contribute useful runs down the order makes him a valuable pick for the Hardik Pandya led franchise.<h2>Rutherford traded from GT to MI</h2>Apart from Shardul Thakur, West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford is set to rejoin Mumbai Indians (MI) for the IPL 2026 season after being traded from the Gujarat Titans (GT). The 27-year-old, who was signed by GT for ₹2.6 crore, moves to MI at the same price. Rutherford has played 44 T20Is for West Indies and holds the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in T20Is; a 139-run stand with Andre Russell against Australia in Perth. In the IPL, Rutherford has played 23 matches, scoring 397 runs and taking one wicket.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 NEWS 🚨 Sherfane Rutherford has been traded from <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gujarat_titans</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mipaltan</a>. Details 👉 <a href="https://t.co/zi36xK6OHg">https://t.co/zi36xK6OHg</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/SRutherford50_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SRutherford50_</a> <a href="https://t.co/4vlSV88jUv">pic.twitter.com/4vlSV88jUv</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1988955045413650631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Reports had earlier suggested a possible double trade involving Arjun Tendulkar, with speculation that both players could switch sides. However, the official IPL announcement did not mention Arjun, leaving fans curious about whether another trade between the two franchises might still be in the works.&nbsp;The trade window before the IPL retention deadline often brings surprises, and this deal could just be the start. As the clock ticks toward the November 15 deadline, more teams are expected to announce trades or retentions that could reshape their 2026 plans.<h2>Mumbai Indians' new joinees' IPL career in numbers</h2>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Name</td><td>Matches</td><td>Wickets&nbsp;</td><td>Runs</td></tr><tr><td>Shardul Thakur</td><td>105</td><td>107</td><td>325</td></tr><tr><td>Sherfane Rutherford</td><td>23</td><td>1</td><td>397</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have bolstered their squad by bringing in two key all-rounders ahead of the new season.

Just two days before the IPL 2026 retention deadline, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have made the first big trade of the season by sending all-rounder Shardul Thakur to five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). The move marks Shardul’s return to his home franchise, as the right-arm quick is set to don the blue jersey. Shardul joined Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan, signing for ₹2 crore after going unsold in the mega auction. Despite that, he made an impact with the ball, taking 13 wickets in 10 matches, though his batting returns were modest with just 18 runs. His experience and knack for breaking partnerships, however, kept him in the spotlight as teams began planning their rosters for the next season. Also read | Ind vs SA, 1st Test: Eden Gardens toss to feature gold coin honouring Gandhi and Mandela

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians have bolstered their squad by bringing in two key all-rounders ahead of the new season.

Double boost for Mumbai Indians as they add THESE two crucial all-rounders ahead of IPL 2026

While the talk of the town is Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson’s trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) retention window, a new transfer could be on the list. In a shocking revelation by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur could be on his way to the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants. It is worth noting that the trade window for IPL 2026 will close on Saturday (Nov 15) with Jadeja-Samson already looking like a done deal.<h2>Shardul to Mumbai Indians?</h2>“I don’t see any releases happening from Mumbai, they won’t release anyone. Their biggest concern would be finding a replacement for Deepak Chahar, who’s a bit injury-prone. They’ve secured Shardul Thakur through a trade from LSG. That has happened, they will probably look for a spinner and will get one too,” said Ashwin in a now-deleted portion of a video on his YouTube Channel ‘Ash ki Baat’.&nbsp;While the clip has now been deleted, Ashwin remains a keen source for the cricket fraternity, having played for multiple franchises during his career. His assurance on the news could also be underlined by the fact that a prominent cricket website, Cricbuzz, also reported the trade rumour. According to Cricbuzz, Shardul could be on his way to Mumbai, while Arjun Tendulkar could be part of another deal that will see him play for LSG.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Thakur, currently leading the Mumbai team in Rajni Trophy, was picked up by LSG as a replacement player for his base price of Rs 2 crore before the start of the last season, after going unsold in the mega IPL auction in Jeddah last year. He featured in 10 games for LSG with modest batting returns - scoring 18 runs - but significantly enough, he managed to claim 13 wickets.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Tendulkar has been part of the Mumbai Indians setup for a couple of seasons, having been picked at his base price of INR 20 lakh in both the auctions he had enrolled in.At the time of writing, neither deal was confirmed by any party, but with the deadline soon approaching, it will be interesting to see whether either trade goes over the line.&nbsp;For now, the trade involving Jadeja and Samson looks all but over the line and could be announced as early as Friday.

In a shocking revelation by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur could be on his way to the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants. 

While the talk of the town is Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson’s trade in the Indian Premier League (IPL) retention window, a new transfer could be on the list. In a shocking revelation by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur could be on his way to the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants. It is worth noting that the trade window for IPL 2026 will close on Saturday (Nov 15) with Jadeja-Samson already looking like a done deal. Shardul to Mumbai Indians? “I don’t see any releases happening from Mumbai, they won’t release anyone. Their biggest concern would be finding a replacement for Deepak Chahar, who’s a bit injury-prone. They’ve secured Shardul Thakur through a trade from LSG. That has happened, they will probably look for a spinner and will get one too,” said Ashwin in a now-deleted portion of a video on his YouTube Channel ‘Ash ki Baat’. While the clip has now been deleted, Ashwin remains a keen source for the cricket fraternity, having played for multiple franchises during his career. His assurance on the news could also be underlined by the fact that a prominent cricket website, Cricbuzz, also reported the trade rumour. According to Cricbuzz, Shardul could be on his way to Mumbai, while Arjun Tendulkar could be part of another deal that will see him play for LSG. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Thakur, currently leading the Mumbai team in Rajni Trophy, was picked up by LSG as a replacement player for his base price of Rs 2 crore before the start of the last season, after going unsold in the mega IPL auction in Jeddah last year. He featured in 10 games for LSG with modest batting returns - scoring 18 runs - but significantly enough, he managed to claim 13 wickets. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Tendulkar has been part of the Mumbai Indians setup for a couple of seasons, having been picked at his base price of INR 20 lakh in both the auctions he had enrolled in. At the time of writing, neither deal was confirmed by any party, but with the deadline soon approaching, it will be interesting to see whether either trade goes over the line. For now, the trade involving Jadeja and Samson looks all but over the line and could be announced as early as Friday.

In a shocking revelation by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur could be on his way to the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants.&nbsp;

Shardul Thakur to Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026? R Ashwin drops massive trade hint ahead of Saturday's deadline

From Mohammed Shami to Shardul Thakur, here's a look at the top five active Indian bowlers with most Test wickets against Proteas. This list also includes Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj

From Mohammed Shami to Shardul Thakur, here's a look at the top five active Indian bowlers with most Test wickets against Proteas. This list also includes Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj

5 active Indian bowlers with most Test wickets against Proteas

IPL is a tough tournament to win but some players made it possible for themselves by making a winning switch to the winning teams just after losing IPL final the previous years. 13 players, including MS Dhoni, in tournament history lost the IPL final, changed the team and won IPL next year.

IPL is a tough tournament to win but some players made it possible for themselves by making a winning switch to the winning teams just after losing IPL final the previous years. 13 players, including MS Dhoni, in tournament history lost the IPL final, changed the team and won IPL next year.

Winning switch in IPL? These players, including Dhoni lost final, changed teams and won IPL title in next season

India pacers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur joined Roger Binny, Ghulam Ahmed and Kapil Dev as the only bowlers to take at least two wickets in fourth innings of a Test at Headingley in Leeds. Krishna and Thahkur, who took their twin wickets on day 5 (Jun 24), are only the third and fourth Indian pacers after Binny and Kapil to take at least a wicket in the fourth innings of a Test in Headingley. Kapil and Binny, both took the wickets in 1986 Test when India won the match and the series as well. In 2025, however, the chances of India winning are bleak at best with England cruising ahead at rapid pace.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ind-vs-eng-duckett-becomes-first-england-opener-to-score-4th-innings-ton-vs-india-in-england-1750772789424">IND vs ENG: Duckett achieves RARE feat with fourth innings ton vs India at Headingley</a>As for his wickets, Krishna first dismissed England opener Zak Crawley for a personal score of 65 before dismissing first innings centurion Ollie Pope. England, after scoring 188 runs for the first wicket, lost two quick ones in space of 14 balls.Talking about Thakur, he removed centurion Ben Duckett (149) and white-ball skipper Harry Brook back-to-back to bring England from 253/2 to 253/4.England ended the second session of the final day at Headingley at 269/4 - needing 102 runs more to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Skipper Ben Stokes and former captain Joe Root were at the crease for England.Earlier in the day, Duckett and Crawley added most runs for opening wicket by England openers in fourth innings at Headingley. Duckett also became the first England opener since Alastair Cook in 2010 to score a fourth innings hundred. This is also the first time an England opener has scored a Test hundred against India in England in fourth innings.

Krishna and Thahkur, who took their twin wickets on day 5 (Jun 24), are only the third and fourth Indian pacers after Binny and Kapil to take at least a wicket in the fourth innings of a Test in Headingley.

India pacers Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur joined Roger Binny, Ghulam Ahmed and Kapil Dev as the only bowlers to take at least two wickets in fourth innings of a Test at Headingley in Leeds. Krishna and Thahkur, who took their twin wickets on day 5 (Jun 24), are only the third and fourth Indian pacers after Binny and Kapil to take at least a wicket in the fourth innings of a Test in Headingley. Kapil and Binny, both took the wickets in 1986 Test when India won the match and the series as well. In 2025, however, the chances of India winning are bleak at best with England cruising ahead at rapid pace. Also Read - IND vs ENG: Duckett achieves RARE feat with fourth innings ton vs India at Headingley As for his wickets, Krishna first dismissed England opener Zak Crawley for a personal score of 65 before dismissing first innings centurion Ollie Pope. England, after scoring 188 runs for the first wicket, lost two quick ones in space of 14 balls. Talking about Thakur, he removed centurion Ben Duckett (149) and white-ball skipper Harry Brook back-to-back to bring England from 253/2 to 253/4. England ended the second session of the final day at Headingley at 269/4 - needing 102 runs more to win the first Test and take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Skipper Ben Stokes and former captain Joe Root were at the crease for England. Earlier in the day, Duckett and Crawley added most runs for opening wicket by England openers in fourth innings at Headingley. Duckett also became the first England opener since Alastair Cook in 2010 to score a fourth innings hundred. This is also the first time an England opener has scored a Test hundred against India in England in fourth innings.

Krishna first dismissed England opener Zak Crawley for a personal score of 65 before dismissing first innings centurion Ollie Pope. England, after scoring 188 runs for the first wicket, lost two quick ones in space of 14 balls.

IND vs ENG: Prasidh Krishna, Shardul join Binny and Kapil in UNIQUE list with two wickets at Headingley

India was in a strong position on Day 2 (Jun 21) of the first Test at Headingley, but England made a big comeback in the morning session. The turning point came right before lunch, when Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur was dismissed by Ben Stokes, who bowled with fire and control.It was the last ball before lunch, and Shardul went for an aggressive shot. Stokes bowled a full delivery wide outside off stump. Thakur threw his hands at it, hoping for a boundary, but all he managed was a thick outside edge. The ball flew straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who made no mistake.&nbsp;The dismissal was captured perfectly on video. It was Stokes’ fourth wicket of the morning and a major boost for England. After a long Day 1 dominated by Indian batters, England came out with clear plans and energy. Stokes led the way with his all-round effort, turning the game just when India looked to take full control.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ben Stokes on fire as he picked up his 4th wicket by dismissing Shardul Thakur 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsENG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsENGTest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvsENGTest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvIND</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENGvsIND?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ENGvsIND</a> <a href="https://t.co/nBC7ae6LJ4">pic.twitter.com/nBC7ae6LJ4</a>&mdash; Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng) <a href="https://twitter.com/MidnightMusinng/status/1936407023589204331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/karun-nair-returns-to-team-india-after-8-years-sets-new-world-record-for-most-matches-missed-karun-nair-shubman-gill-ind-vs-eng-headingley-leeds-1750503176858">Karun Nair returns to Team India after 8 years, sets new WORLD record for most matches missed</a>&nbsp;India had resumed the day at 359/3. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant brought up his seventh Test century in style by smashing a six off Shoaib Bashir. He and captain Shubman Gill stitched together a solid 200-run stand. But the joy didn’t last long. First, Gill was dismissed for 147. Soon after, Karun Nair, making a comeback after eight years, was out for a duck. Then came a big blow in Pant, who, after scoring 134, was also removed. And finally, Shardul’s wicket ended a tough session for India.&nbsp;Resuming the game after lunch, India could only add 17 runs as the visitors were bowled out for 471 in the first innings. The last seven batters could manage only 41 runs.

It was Stokes’ fourth wicket of the morning and a major boost for England. After a long Day 1 dominated by Indian batters, England came out with clear plans and energy. 

India was in a strong position on Day 2 (Jun 21) of the first Test at Headingley, but England made a big comeback in the morning session. The turning point came right before lunch, when Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur was dismissed by Ben Stokes, who bowled with fire and control. It was the last ball before lunch, and Shardul went for an aggressive shot. Stokes bowled a full delivery wide outside off stump. Thakur threw his hands at it, hoping for a boundary, but all he managed was a thick outside edge. The ball flew straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who made no mistake. The dismissal was captured perfectly on video. It was Stokes’ fourth wicket of the morning and a major boost for England. After a long Day 1 dominated by Indian batters, England came out with clear plans and energy. Stokes led the way with his all-round effort, turning the game just when India looked to take full control.

It was Stokes’ fourth wicket of the morning and a major boost for England. After a long Day 1 dominated by Indian batters, England came out with clear plans and energy.&nbsp;

Watch: Shardul Thakur edges to wicketkeeper, Stokes takes fourth wicket before lunch

India's newly appointed Test skipper Shubman Gill says that they'll be going for 20 wickets as that's the only way any team wins a Test match. The comments on the eve of first Test against England which starts June 20. This would be the first time India are going to play without Ravi Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - all of whom retired - as they enter into a new era. Gill, however, was wary of India's batting depth and pointed that that there could a bowling allrounder to accompany four proper bowlers. This indicates that Shardul Thakur might get preference over Nitish Reddy."Yes, definitely," Gill said in response to the question on the eve of Test match when asked if they'd be going for 20 wickets. “You can't win a Test match without taking 20 wickets, no matter how many runs you have scored. So, that has been one of our key discussion points, you know, how we're gonna take 20 wickets. And there might be a case, you know, where we could only be going with some pure batters and you could see a bowling allrounder and three to four premier fast bowlers or proper bowlers.”Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-tendulkar-solid-defence-advice-for-attacking-indian-batters-in-ind-vs-eng-test-series-1750351813096">IND vs ENG: Tendulkar shares 'solid defence' advice for attacking Indian batters</a>Taking Gill's statement into consideration, India's playing XI may look like as following:Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan/Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed SirajGill's thinking behind playing four seamers could also be based on the fact that pacers have taken about 85% of the wickets in the last five Tests.The pitch at Leeds offers good support to fast bowlers. Apart from England spinner Jack Leech's five-wicket haul in both innings against New Zealand in 2022, spinners have not had much success at Headingley.Also, in the last five matches, most teams batting first were all out for less than 200 and the team chasing won four times with the average target for chasing being just under 300 runs (298 runs to be precise).

IND vs ENG, 1st Test: India's playing XI may look like as following - Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan/Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

India's newly appointed Test skipper Shubman Gill says that they'll be going for 20 wickets as that's the only way any team wins a Test match. The comments on the eve of first Test against England which starts June 20. This would be the first time India are going to play without Ravi Ashwin, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - all of whom retired - as they enter into a new era. Gill, however, was wary of India's batting depth and pointed that that there could a bowling allrounder to accompany four proper bowlers. This indicates that Shardul Thakur might get preference over Nitish Reddy. "Yes, definitely," Gill said in response to the question on the eve of Test match when asked if they'd be going for 20 wickets. “You can't win a Test match without taking 20 wickets, no matter how many runs you have scored. So, that has been one of our key discussion points, you know, how we're gonna take 20 wickets. And there might be a case, you know, where we could only be going with some pure batters and you could see a bowling allrounder and three to four premier fast bowlers or proper bowlers.” Also Read - IND vs ENG: Tendulkar shares 'solid defence' advice for attacking Indian batters Taking Gill's statement into consideration, India's playing XI may look like as following: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan/Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj Gill's thinking behind playing four seamers could also be based on the fact that pacers have taken about 85% of the wickets in the last five Tests. The pitch at Leeds offers good support to fast bowlers. Apart from England spinner Jack Leech's five-wicket haul in both innings against New Zealand in 2022, spinners have not had much success at Headingley. Also, in the last five matches, most teams batting first were all out for less than 200 and the team chasing won four times with the average target for chasing being just under 300 runs (298 runs to be precise).

IND vs ENG, 1st Test: India's playing XI may look like as following - Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Sai Sudharsan/Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

IND vs ENG: Shardul Thankur over Nitish Reddy in playing XI? Captain Gill vows go after '20 wickets'

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants" rel="dofollow">Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)</a> are taking giant strides in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a> with powerful performances. Though their batters are to be lauded for their results, the effort the bowlers are putting in must also be acknowledged - premier seamer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur" rel="dofollow">Shardul Thakur</a> thinks so.
Thakur remained unsold at the mega auction late last year but was roped in as Mohsin Khan&rsquo;s replacement at the LSG, returning with 11 wickets from six contested matches thus far &ndash; the second-best. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-viral-video-glenn-maxwell-travis-head-and-marcus-stoinis-indulge-in-mid-pitch-banter-during-ipl-2025-classic-8957260" rel="dofollow">Watch Viral Video: Aussie star trio indulge in mid-pitch banter during IPL 2025 classic</a>
Meanwhile, with how runs are flowing for fun this season, there is no place for the bowlers to hide, and what is worse? The commentators are taking a jibe at them for being unable to restrict the batters from going gaga over hitting boundaries. &nbsp; &nbsp;
Against Gujarat Titans (GT) in LSG&rsquo;s last home game on Saturday, Thakur conceded 34 runs from four overs but picked up two wickets. After the game, he addressed the criticism the bowlers are facing, arguing the commentators are being too harsh on them without knowing how T20 cricket is shaping up in the batter&rsquo;s favour and that hitting 200 or more in an inning is now becoming a norm.&nbsp;
"I&rsquo;ve always believed that, as a bowling unit, we&rsquo;ve bowled well throughout the season. A lot of times in commentary, there&rsquo;s criticism &mdash; they try to be hard on the bowlers. &nbsp;
&ldquo;But you have to understand that cricket is moving in a certain direction where 200+ scores are becoming more common. And like you said, criticism will always be there &mdash; especially from commentators," Thakur said in the post-match presser in Lucknow. &nbsp;
He said it&rsquo;s easier for anyone to sit inside a studio and comment on someone&rsquo;s bowling, instead, they must realise what the bowlers go through out there in the middle. &nbsp;
"It&rsquo;s easy to sit in a studio and comment on someone&rsquo;s bowling, but they don&rsquo;t see the real picture out there on the ground. I&rsquo;m sure they should look at their own stats before criticising anyone," he added.&nbsp;
<h2>Proud of the bowling unit&nbsp;</h2>
Despite not having any overseas seamer, LSG defended two totals this time, and Thakur is proud of the bowling unit for this. A win over Gujarat Titans at home saw LSG climb to the third spot on the points table with four victories in six matches.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Credit to us that we&rsquo;ve defended scores on two occasions when we batted first. We put up a good score, the pitch became better for batting, and even with drastic changes, we managed to defend &mdash; one game by 10 runs, one by four runs in Kolkata. &nbsp;
&ldquo;So, it was about holding our nerve till the end and believing in ourselves that we could win the game, provided we got an important wicket or bowled a key over,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Shardul Thakur has led the bowling attack at LSG this season, picking 11 wickets from six contested matches thus far. India news, Cricket, Sports

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are taking giant strides in IPL 2025 with powerful performances. Though their batters are to be lauded for their results, the effort the bowlers are putting in must also be acknowledged - premier seamer Shardul Thakur thinks so. Thakur remained unsold at the mega auction late last year but was roped in as Mohsin Khan’s replacement at the LSG, returning with 11 wickets from six contested matches thus far – the second-best. Also read | Watch Viral Video: Aussie star trio indulge in mid-pitch banter during IPL 2025 classic Meanwhile, with how runs are flowing for fun this season, there is no place for the bowlers to hide, and what is worse? The commentators are taking a jibe at them for being unable to restrict the batters from going gaga over hitting boundaries. Against Gujarat Titans (GT) in LSG’s last home game on Saturday, Thakur conceded 34 runs from four overs but picked up two wickets. After the game, he addressed the criticism the bowlers are facing, arguing the commentators are being too harsh on them without knowing how T20 cricket is shaping up in the batter’s favour and that hitting 200 or more in an inning is now becoming a norm. "I’ve always believed that, as a bowling unit, we’ve bowled well throughout the season. A lot of times in commentary, there’s criticism — they try to be hard on the bowlers. “But you have to understand that cricket is moving in a certain direction where 200+ scores are becoming more common. And like you said, criticism will always be there — especially from commentators," Thakur said in the post-match presser in Lucknow. He said it’s easier for anyone to sit inside a studio and comment on someone’s bowling, instead, they must realise what the bowlers go through out there in the middle. "It’s easy to sit in a studio and comment on someone’s bowling, but they don’t see the real picture out there on the ground. I’m sure they should look at their own stats before criticising anyone," he added. Proud of the bowling unit Despite not having any overseas seamer, LSG defended two totals this time, and Thakur is proud of the bowling unit for this. A win over Gujarat Titans at home saw LSG climb to the third spot on the points table with four victories in six matches. “Credit to us that we’ve defended scores on two occasions when we batted first. We put up a good score, the pitch became better for batting, and even with drastic changes, we managed to defend — one game by 10 runs, one by four runs in Kolkata. “So, it was about holding our nerve till the end and believing in ourselves that we could win the game, provided we got an important wicket or bowled a key over,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'It's easy to sit in a studio and...,' Shardul Thakur hits back at commentators over bowlers' criticism

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur">Shardul Thakur</a> has spoken out in favor of creating pitches that give bowlers a 'fair and square chance' rather than favoring batters, a trend he feels has been prevalent in the Indian Premier League.&nbsp;
Speaking ahead of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants">Lucknow Super Giants</a>' (LSG) first home game of the season against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/punjab-kings">Punjab Kings</a>, Thakur emphasised the need for balanced pitches that don&rsquo;t favor one side. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not just about what I want, it&rsquo;s what bowlers as a whole want,&rdquo; Thakur said. &ldquo;A lot of bowlers may not be outspoken or have the chance to speak up about pitch conditions, but all we&rsquo;re asking for is a level playing field.&rdquo;
Thakur explained that bowlers are simply seeking conditions where the game feels balanced, and batters aren't just coming in and dominating with big scores. "We just want a fair chance to bowl and get wickets," he added. "The pitch should not be tilted heavily in favor of the batters, giving them the advantage to smash us."
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-mamba-mentality-pbks-pacer-arshdeep-says-key-is-to-improve-by-1-15-after-every-game-8913973">IPL 2025: Mamba mentality? PBKS pacer Arshdeep says 'key is to improve by 1-1.5% after every game'</a>
<h2>'Preparation is key'</h2>
In IPL 2025, high-scoring games have been common, with six matches surpassing 200 runs already. In one of the games, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 286/6. While Thakur expressed some reservations about the Impact Player rule, he believes that the real issue lies with the pitches.
"We&rsquo;ve seen the impact of the new rule, where teams can play an extra batter. The rule brings entertainment, but the big scores aren&rsquo;t just because of that change," he noted. "The pitches also play a big part. We, as bowlers, just want a fair chance to get batsmen out.&rdquo;
Thakur, who joined LSG as a replacement player, has quickly become the team's poster boy and their leading wicket-taker with six wickets from two matches, maintaining an economy rate of 8.83. He attributes his success to his preparation and understanding of his game. 'Preparation is key', Thakur said. "It&rsquo;s all about knowing how to bowl depending on the pitch conditions, the match situation, and which batter you're facing."
Despite a series of injuries in the team, with Mohsin Khan and Mayank Yadav sidelined, Thakur insists the team must focus on what is available rather than what is missing. "We have the bowlers available to us, and we have to focus on that," he said.
"In the IPL, all 25 players in the squad are equal. Past performances may earn players more opportunities, but when you step onto the field, it&rsquo;s about your confidence, your preparation, and how you perform on that particular day," he signed off.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Thakur explained that bowlers are simply seeking conditions where the game feels balanced, and batters aren't just coming in and hitting big scores

Shardul Thakur has spoken out in favor of creating pitches that give bowlers a 'fair and square chance' rather than favoring batters, a trend he feels has been prevalent in the Indian Premier League. Speaking ahead of Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) first home game of the season against Punjab Kings, Thakur emphasised the need for balanced pitches that don’t favor one side. “It’s not just about what I want, it’s what bowlers as a whole want,” Thakur said. “A lot of bowlers may not be outspoken or have the chance to speak up about pitch conditions, but all we’re asking for is a level playing field.” Thakur explained that bowlers are simply seeking conditions where the game feels balanced, and batters aren't just coming in and dominating with big scores. "We just want a fair chance to bowl and get wickets," he added. "The pitch should not be tilted heavily in favor of the batters, giving them the advantage to smash us." Also Read: IPL 2025: Mamba mentality? PBKS pacer Arshdeep says 'key is to improve by 1-1.5% after every game' 'Preparation is key' In IPL 2025, high-scoring games have been common, with six matches surpassing 200 runs already. In one of the games, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 286/6. While Thakur expressed some reservations about the Impact Player rule, he believes that the real issue lies with the pitches. "We’ve seen the impact of the new rule, where teams can play an extra batter. The rule brings entertainment, but the big scores aren’t just because of that change," he noted. "The pitches also play a big part. We, as bowlers, just want a fair chance to get batsmen out.” Thakur, who joined LSG as a replacement player, has quickly become the team's poster boy and their leading wicket-taker with six wickets from two matches, maintaining an economy rate of 8.83. He attributes his success to his preparation and understanding of his game. 'Preparation is key', Thakur said. "It’s all about knowing how to bowl depending on the pitch conditions, the match situation, and which batter you're facing." Despite a series of injuries in the team, with Mohsin Khan and Mayank Yadav sidelined, Thakur insists the team must focus on what is available rather than what is missing. "We have the bowlers available to us, and we have to focus on that," he said. "In the IPL, all 25 players in the squad are equal. Past performances may earn players more opportunities, but when you step onto the field, it’s about your confidence, your preparation, and how you perform on that particular day," he signed off. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: LSG's pacer has his say on high-scoring pitches: 'All bowlers want is a...'

Shardul Thakur was not supposed to play in IPL 2025. He had made arrangements to play for Essex in England domestic cricket after going unsold in IPL mega auction last year. A few injuries then opened up some slots at Lucknow Super Giants and he got a call.
Shardul accepted the offer and has bowled two double-wicket overs in as many matches for LSG in IPL 2025. During the match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday (Mar 26) he finished with 4/34 and and revealed it was Zaheer Khan who had called him to join the franchise.
Also Read: <a class="gh-archive-page-post-title-link" href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-lgs-vs-srh-playing-only-9th-t20-game-overall-who-is-delhi-based-lsg-bowler-prince-yadav-clean-bowls-travis-head-on-first-ball-watch-8897790" aria-label="IPL 2025, LGS vs SRH: Playing only 10th T20 game overall, Delhi-based LSG bowler clean bowls Travis Head on first ball - WATCH">IPL 2025, LGS vs SRH: Playing only 10th T20 game overall, Delhi-based LSG bowler clean bowls Travis Head on first ball - WATCH</a>
"In IPL, all these things keep happening. Unfortunately few injuries here and there and there were few inquiries if I could join the camp. But LSG approached me first so I had to accept it. Zaheer Khan gave me a call. You have good and bad days, you have to go through it in cricket," said Shardul during the innings break.
Against SRH, Thakur removed dangerous Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who had scored a whirlwind ton in the last game, on successive balls - putting IPL's most destructive batting line-up in defense mode.
In the match against Delhi Capitals, Shardul had also picked up two wickets that too in the same over - the first of DC's chase - as he dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel.
Overall, Thakur has played 95 IPL games for five different franchise over last 10 years. Before turning up for LSG, he played for Punjab Kings in 2015, Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, CSK from 2018-2022, KKR in 2023 before going back to CSK in 2024.
In 95 IPL games before this season, he had taken 94 wickets with a best of 4/36 and an economy of 9.22 He also has 307 runs to his name at a strike rate of 137 and a best of 68.

Shardul, against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday (Mar 26), finished with 4/34 and revealed it was Zaheer Khan who had called him to join the franchise. Cricket Sports

Shardul Thakur was not supposed to play in IPL 2025. He had made arrangements to play for Essex in England domestic cricket after going unsold in IPL mega auction last year. A few injuries then opened up some slots at Lucknow Super Giants and he got a call. Shardul accepted the offer and has bowled two double-wicket overs in as many matches for LSG in IPL 2025. During the match against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday (Mar 26) he finished with 4/34 and and revealed it was Zaheer Khan who had called him to join the franchise. Also Read: IPL 2025, LGS vs SRH: Playing only 10th T20 game overall, Delhi-based LSG bowler clean bowls Travis Head on first ball - WATCH "In IPL, all these things keep happening. Unfortunately few injuries here and there and there were few inquiries if I could join the camp. But LSG approached me first so I had to accept it. Zaheer Khan gave me a call. You have good and bad days, you have to go through it in cricket," said Shardul during the innings break. Against SRH, Thakur removed dangerous Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who had scored a whirlwind ton in the last game, on successive balls - putting IPL's most destructive batting line-up in defense mode. In the match against Delhi Capitals, Shardul had also picked up two wickets that too in the same over - the first of DC's chase - as he dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel. Overall, Thakur has played 95 IPL games for five different franchise over last 10 years. Before turning up for LSG, he played for Punjab Kings in 2015, Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, CSK from 2018-2022, KKR in 2023 before going back to CSK in 2024. In 95 IPL games before this season, he had taken 94 wickets with a best of 4/36 and an economy of 9.22 He also has 307 runs to his name at a strike rate of 137 and a best of 68.

IPL 2025: 'I had to accept it,' Shardul Thakur reveals who called him to join LSG after going unsold at auction

The story of Shardul Thakur or Lord Shardul - how he came to be known among fans - doesn't get any better than his twin wickets against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025 on Thursday (Mar 27). Thakur, who was originally not even picked in the IPL mega auction last year, has been the most effective LSG bowler in the two games played so far.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/star-culture-returns-with-csk-rcb-southern-derby-why-is-it-ipl-2025-biggest-draw-8896859">Star culture returns with CSK-RCB Southern Derby: Why is it IPL's biggest draw?</a>
Against SRH, Thakur removed dangerous Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who had scored a whirlwind ton in the last game, on successive balls - putting IPL's most destructive batting line-up in defense mode. Have a look at the wicket below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
SHARDUL STRIKES! 🔥 The dangerous <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbhishekSharma?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AbhishekSharma</a> falls into the trap as he gets caught at fine leg off <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShardulThakur?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ShardulThakur</a>&rsquo;s clever delivery! Watch LIVE action: <a href="https://t.co/f9h0ie1eiG">https://t.co/f9h0ie1eiG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLonJioStar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLonJioStar</a> 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SRHvLSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SRHvLSG</a> | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi &amp; JioHotstar! <a href="https://t.co/hx4H3wO2EN">pic.twitter.com/hx4H3wO2EN</a>
&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/1905263676376141918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In the match against Delhi Capitals, Shardul had also picked up two wickets that too in the same over - the first of DC's chase - as he dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel. Thanks to his wickets, LSG were dominating the game for most part only to loss the game by a wicket in the end.
He eventually finished with 4/34 as SRH posted 190/9 in 20 overs.
<h2>Shardul Thakur Story in IPL</h2>
Thakur joined LSG only days before the IPL 2025 season as a replacement of Mohsin Khan who was ruled out due to an injury. Shardul was picked from registered pool of players at his base price of INR 2 crore ($233,402).
Overall, Thakur has played 95 IPL games for five different franchise over last 10 years. Before turning up for LSG, he played for Punjab Kings in 2015, Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, CSK from 2018-2022, KKR in 2023 before going back to CSK in 2024.
In 95 IPL games before this season, he had taken 94 wickets with a best of 4/36 and an economy of 9.22 He also has 307 runs to his name at a strike rate of 137 and a best of 68.

Thakur joined LSG only days before the IPL 2025 season as a replacement of Mohsin Khan. Shardul was picked at his base price of INR 2 crore ($233,402). Cricket Sports

The story of Shardul Thakur or Lord Shardul - how he came to be known among fans - doesn't get any better than his twin wickets against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025 on Thursday (Mar 27). Thakur, who was originally not even picked in the IPL mega auction last year, has been the most effective LSG bowler in the two games played so far. Also Read: Star culture returns with CSK-RCB Southern Derby: Why is it IPL's biggest draw? Against SRH, Thakur removed dangerous Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who had scored a whirlwind ton in the last game, on successive balls - putting IPL's most destructive batting line-up in defense mode. Have a look at the wicket below: SHARDUL STRIKES! 🔥 The dangerous #AbhishekSharma falls into the trap as he gets caught at fine leg off #ShardulThakur’s clever delivery! Watch LIVE action: https://t.co/f9h0ie1eiG #IPLonJioStar 👉 #SRHvLSG | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/hx4H3wO2EN — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 27, 2025 In the match against Delhi Capitals, Shardul had also picked up two wickets that too in the same over - the first of DC's chase - as he dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel. Thanks to his wickets, LSG were dominating the game for most part only to loss the game by a wicket in the end. He eventually finished with 4/34 as SRH posted 190/9 in 20 overs. Shardul Thakur Story in IPL Thakur joined LSG only days before the IPL 2025 season as a replacement of Mohsin Khan who was ruled out due to an injury. Shardul was picked from registered pool of players at his base price of INR 2 crore ($233,402). Overall, Thakur has played 95 IPL games for five different franchise over last 10 years. Before turning up for LSG, he played for Punjab Kings in 2015, Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017, CSK from 2018-2022, KKR in 2023 before going back to CSK in 2024. In 95 IPL games before this season, he had taken 94 wickets with a best of 4/36 and an economy of 9.22 He also has 307 runs to his name at a strike rate of 137 and a best of 68.

IPL 2025: Unsold in auction, Shardul Thakur bowls double-wicket over in second consecutive match for LSG

After going unsold in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league" rel="dofollow">Indian Premier League</a> auction, seam-bowling all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur">Shardul Thakur</a> is set to make a comeback, joining Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan.
LSG confirmed the signing in an official statement, announcing that Thakur was brought in from the registered available player pool at his base price of $23 million. The 33-year-old all-rounder replaces left-arm pacer Mohsin, who has been ruled out of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/days-after-divorce-chahals-old-marriage-post-sends-internet-into-frenzy-8881789">Days after divorce, Chahal&rsquo;s old &lsquo;marriage&rsquo; post sends internet into frenzy</a>
Thakur, who recently showcased stellar form in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai&mdash;scoring 505 runs and taking 35 wickets in nine matches after recovering from foot surgery&mdash;had earlier signed with Essex for county cricket. His vast IPL experience includes stints with five franchises: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rising Pune Supergiant. In 95 IPL appearances, he has picked 67 wickets with an economy rate of 8.89.
<h2>See Shardul during practice sesison with LSG:</h2>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
You say strike, we hear Shardul 💪🤩 <a href="https://t.co/mHG0RT0WUW">pic.twitter.com/mHG0RT0WUW</a>
&mdash; Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/1903689028714582192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

LSG, under their new captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rishabh-pant">Rishabh Pant</a>, will kick off their campaign against Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 24, in Visakhapatnam.
Meanwhile, Mohsin Khan, who reportedly sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December, remains with the LSG camp for rehabilitation. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, he will work closely with the team&rsquo;s support staff on his recovery plan.
<h2>Lack of pacers at LSG</h2>
Besides him, LSG&rsquo;s premier Indian pacers, including Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan, continue to recover from their respective injuries at BCCI&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru; all three are yet to link up with the squad.&nbsp;
Zaheer Khan, LSG mentor, also spoke on the same lines. Without sharing many details on their match fitness, Zaheer underlined the side&rsquo;s approach this season as their chase for their maiden IPL title continues.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Lucknow Super Giants brought Shardul Thakur from the registered available player pool at his base price of $23 million in place of injured Mohsin Khan

After going unsold in the Indian Premier League auction, seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur is set to make a comeback, joining Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan. LSG confirmed the signing in an official statement, announcing that Thakur was brought in from the registered available player pool at his base price of $23 million. The 33-year-old all-rounder replaces left-arm pacer Mohsin, who has been ruled out of the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to injury. Also Read: Days after divorce, Chahal’s old ‘marriage’ post sends internet into frenzy Thakur, who recently showcased stellar form in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai—scoring 505 runs and taking 35 wickets in nine matches after recovering from foot surgery—had earlier signed with Essex for county cricket. His vast IPL experience includes stints with five franchises: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rising Pune Supergiant. In 95 IPL appearances, he has picked 67 wickets with an economy rate of 8.89. See Shardul during practice sesison with LSG: You say strike, we hear Shardul 💪🤩 pic.twitter.com/mHG0RT0WUW — Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 23, 2025 LSG, under their new captain Rishabh Pant, will kick off their campaign against Delhi Capitals on Monday, March 24, in Visakhapatnam. Meanwhile, Mohsin Khan, who reportedly sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in his right knee during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December, remains with the LSG camp for rehabilitation. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, he will work closely with the team’s support staff on his recovery plan. Lack of pacers at LSG Besides him, LSG’s premier Indian pacers, including Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan, continue to recover from their respective injuries at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru; all three are yet to link up with the squad. Zaheer Khan, LSG mentor, also spoke on the same lines. Without sharing many details on their match fitness, Zaheer underlined the side’s approach this season as their chase for their maiden IPL title continues. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur to join LSG after Mohsin ruled out due to injury

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lucknow-super-giants" rel="dofollow">Lucknow Super Giants</a> (LSG) has replaced their Indian seamer Mohsin Khan with Mumbai all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur" rel="dofollow">Shardul Thakur</a>, per the latest report. Thakur remained unsold at last year&rsquo;s mega auction in Jeddah but had been training alongside LSG players since their pre-season camp began. Though an official announcement will soon follow, the report suggests that Thakur has been informed of his inclusion in the squad ahead of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ipl-2025" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025</a>.
A Times of India (TOI) report claims that Thakur will travel with the LSG squad to Vizag for their season-opener against the Delhi Capitals on Monday (Mar 24).&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/kkr-vs-rcb-will-rain-play-spoilsport-in-ipl-2025-opener-check-out-saturdays-weather-report-8875667" rel="dofollow">KKR vs RCB: Will rain play spoilsport in IPL 2025 opener? Check out Saturday&rsquo;s weather report</a>
Meanwhile, the lanky seamer Mohsin has been away from action for the past three months due to an ACL injury that he picked up earlier. After recovering in time for IPL 2025, another blow (calf strain) during LSG training ruled him out of action indefinitely; as a result, LSG was forced to make this change.
<h2>Lack of pacers at LSG</h2>
Besides him, LSG&rsquo;s premier Indian pacers, including Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan, continue to recover from their respective injuries at BCCI&rsquo;s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru; all three are yet to link up with the squad.&nbsp;
Zaheer Khan, LSG mentor, also spoke on the same lines. Without sharing many details on their match fitness, Zaheer underlined the side&rsquo;s approach this season as their chase for their maiden IPL title continues.&nbsp;
"The situation is dynamic for some of our players due to injuries. But it&rsquo;s time that we look for positives and adopt things to tackle the situation amicably. Some players are at the National Cricket Academy and others are spending time with their physios. Right now, it will not be right to say anything about this. The situation will be dynamic this season,&rdquo; Zaheer said in a media interaction, as quoted by Times of India.
However, to begin with, Shardul will lead LSG&rsquo;s pace attack (for being the most experienced of the lot), with seamers uncapped Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Prince Yadav waiting in the wings for their chance. West Indies&rsquo; Shamar Joseph is the lone overseas seamer in the LSG squad.&nbsp;
Though LSG has a settled squad at the helm, they still need their injured Indian quicks to recover in time and be available for most of the tournament.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Though an official announcement will soon follow, the report suggests that Thakur has been informed of his inclusion in the squad ahead of IPL 2025.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) has replaced their Indian seamer Mohsin Khan with Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur, per the latest report. Thakur remained unsold at last year’s mega auction in Jeddah but had been training alongside LSG players since their pre-season camp began. Though an official announcement will soon follow, the report suggests that Thakur has been informed of his inclusion in the squad ahead of IPL 2025. A Times of India (TOI) report claims that Thakur will travel with the LSG squad to Vizag for their season-opener against the Delhi Capitals on Monday (Mar 24). Also read | KKR vs RCB: Will rain play spoilsport in IPL 2025 opener? Check out Saturday’s weather report Meanwhile, the lanky seamer Mohsin has been away from action for the past three months due to an ACL injury that he picked up earlier. After recovering in time for IPL 2025, another blow (calf strain) during LSG training ruled him out of action indefinitely; as a result, LSG was forced to make this change. Lack of pacers at LSG Besides him, LSG’s premier Indian pacers, including Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav and Avesh Khan, continue to recover from their respective injuries at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru; all three are yet to link up with the squad. Zaheer Khan, LSG mentor, also spoke on the same lines. Without sharing many details on their match fitness, Zaheer underlined the side’s approach this season as their chase for their maiden IPL title continues. "The situation is dynamic for some of our players due to injuries. But it’s time that we look for positives and adopt things to tackle the situation amicably. Some players are at the National Cricket Academy and others are spending time with their physios. Right now, it will not be right to say anything about this. The situation will be dynamic this season,” Zaheer said in a media interaction, as quoted by Times of India. However, to begin with, Shardul will lead LSG’s pace attack (for being the most experienced of the lot), with seamers uncapped Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Prince Yadav waiting in the wings for their chance. West Indies’ Shamar Joseph is the lone overseas seamer in the LSG squad. Though LSG has a settled squad at the helm, they still need their injured Indian quicks to recover in time and be available for most of the tournament. (With inputs from agencies)

Overlooked at mega auction, all-rounder Shardul Thakur finds new home in IPL 2025

Left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade struck thrice in an over as Mumbai slipped to 188 for 7 in reply to Vidarbha's first innings total of 383, trailing by 195 runs at stumps on Day Two of their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a> semifinal on Tuesday (Feb 18).
Mumbai opener Akash Anand was battling at one end, unbeaten on 67, with the last recognised batter, Tanush Kotian, on 5 not out at the other, as their title defence came under intense pressure from a disciplined and persistent Vidarbha side on their home ground at the VCA Stadium.
Mumbai were steady at 113 for two at one stage, but Rekhade, playing only his second First-Class match, ripped open the Ranji champions' batting line-up, first with an innocuous delivery that claimed the prized scalp of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ajinkya-rahane">Ajinkya Rahane</a> in the 41st over.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-step-into-the-game-with-36-cameras-and-a-360-virtual-universe-what-all-cricket-fans-can-expect-8733104">Champions Trophy 2025: Step into the game with 36 cameras and a 360&deg; virtual universe- What all cricket fans can expect</a>
Rahane's defensive prod had the ball rolling back to his stumps and knock off the bails, ending his stay for a 24-ball 18. Two deliveries later,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/suryakumar-yadav">Suryakumar Yadav</a> (0) paid a heavy price for a hard-handed frontfoot prod as an inside edge was sharply collected by Danish Malewar at silly point over his head. Another couple of deliveries later, Shivam Dube (0), who had claimed 5/49 in Vidarbha's first innings, was also caught for a two-ball duck like his India T20I teammate Suryakumar as Mumbai slipped from 113/2 to 113/5.
It soon became 118/6 for the Rahane-led side, losing four wickets for a mere five runs, when Shams Mulani was trapped leg-before by Harsh Dubey for his first wicket.
Anand then forged a crucial 60-run stand with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur">Shardul Thakur</a> but their partnership did not last long.&nbsp;Thakur, who has persistently come to Mumbai's rescue with the bat this season, did produce a fightback but could not push on for a big knock, perishing for a 41-ball 37 with four fours and a six with his knock having all the elements of his trademark counterattack.
He was bounced out by Yash Thakur (2), who had cleaned up Siddhesh Lad (35) for a vital breakthrough earlier in the day to break his stubborn second-wicket partnership with Anand.
Mumbai had begun rather shakily in reply to Vidarbha's first innings total when opener Ayush Mhatre played one in the air early on to find Malewar at cover, following which the pair of Lad and Anand had done well to see off the threat from the new ball there on.
On his part, wicketkeeper-batter Anand batted extremely well, reaching a solid 67 off 171 balls, including six fours&mdash;most of them coming on the off-side. But once again it was Vidarbha who walked away with the bragging rights after another dominant show, having earlier added 75 runs to their overnight total of 308 for five.
Rathod brought up his fifty shortly after play resumed on the second day but like his teammates, could not push on and fell for 54 off 113 balls with seven fours.
Brief scores: Vidarbha 383 in 107.5 overs (Dhruv Shorey 74, Danish Malewar 79, Yash Rathod 54; Shivam Dube 5/49, Shams Mulani 2/62) lead Mumbai 188/7 in 59 overs (Akash Anand 67*; Yash Thakur 2/56, Parth Rekhade 3/16) by 195 runs.
<h2>Advantage Kerala against Gujarat</h2>
Mohammed Azharudeen's dogged 149 not out, his first hundred in red ball cricket in seven years, took Kerala to a commanding 418/7 at stumps on day two of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Gujarat here.
Kerala, who have not gone past the semifinals in the premier domestic red ball event, had resumed the day at 206 for four.&nbsp;Skipper Sachin Baby, who was on 69 overnight, did not trouble the scorers on the following day as he was removed by left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla on the second ball of the day.
A 149-run stand between Azharudeen and Salman Nizar (52 off 202) followed, taking Kerala past the 350-run mark. On day three, Kerala would like to bat as long as possible and then aim for the all-important first-innings lead over the home team on a flat track.
Azharudeen, who was on 30 overnight, carried his bat through the day with his unbeaten 149 coming off 303 balls. Remarkably, it was the 30-year-old's second first-class hundred and first after seven years, having made his Ranji debut back in November 2015. Nagwaswalla was the pick of Gujarat bowlers on Tuesday and has taken three wickets thus far. The left-arm pacer got rid of Ahammed Imran (24) towards the close of play as he frustrated the hosts with a 40-run stand with Azharudeen.
After accumulating 206 on the opening day, they could only add 212 on Tuesday. Gujarat will have to be at their best with the bat to wrest the advantage from the visitors.
Brief scores: Kerala 418/7 in 177 overs (Mohammed Azharudeen 149 not out; Arzan Nagwaswalla 3/64).
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Cricket, Sports: Parth Rekhade struck thrice in an over as Mumbai slipped to 188/7, while Mohammed Azharudeen's first hundred in red ball cricket in 7 years took Kerala to 418/7

Left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade struck thrice in an over as Mumbai slipped to 188 for 7 in reply to Vidarbha's first innings total of 383, trailing by 195 runs at stumps on Day Two of their Ranji Trophy semifinal on Tuesday (Feb 18). Mumbai opener Akash Anand was battling at one end, unbeaten on 67, with the last recognised batter, Tanush Kotian, on 5 not out at the other, as their title defence came under intense pressure from a disciplined and persistent Vidarbha side on their home ground at the VCA Stadium. Mumbai were steady at 113 for two at one stage, but Rekhade, playing only his second First-Class match, ripped open the Ranji champions' batting line-up, first with an innocuous delivery that claimed the prized scalp of Ajinkya Rahane in the 41st over. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Step into the game with 36 cameras and a 360° virtual universe- What all cricket fans can expect Rahane's defensive prod had the ball rolling back to his stumps and knock off the bails, ending his stay for a 24-ball 18. Two deliveries later, Suryakumar Yadav (0) paid a heavy price for a hard-handed frontfoot prod as an inside edge was sharply collected by Danish Malewar at silly point over his head. Another couple of deliveries later, Shivam Dube (0), who had claimed 5/49 in Vidarbha's first innings, was also caught for a two-ball duck like his India T20I teammate Suryakumar as Mumbai slipped from 113/2 to 113/5. It soon became 118/6 for the Rahane-led side, losing four wickets for a mere five runs, when Shams Mulani was trapped leg-before by Harsh Dubey for his first wicket. Anand then forged a crucial 60-run stand with Shardul Thakur but their partnership did not last long. Thakur, who has persistently come to Mumbai's rescue with the bat this season, did produce a fightback but could not push on for a big knock, perishing for a 41-ball 37 with four fours and a six with his knock having all the elements of his trademark counterattack. He was bounced out by Yash Thakur (2), who had cleaned up Siddhesh Lad (35) for a vital breakthrough earlier in the day to break his stubborn second-wicket partnership with Anand. Mumbai had begun rather shakily in reply to Vidarbha's first innings total when opener Ayush Mhatre played one in the air early on to find Malewar at cover, following which the pair of Lad and Anand had done well to see off the threat from the new ball there on. On his part, wicketkeeper-batter Anand batted extremely well, reaching a solid 67 off 171 balls, including six fours—most of them coming on the off-side. But once again it was Vidarbha who walked away with the bragging rights after another dominant show, having earlier added 75 runs to their overnight total of 308 for five. Rathod brought up his fifty shortly after play resumed on the second day but like his teammates, could not push on and fell for 54 off 113 balls with seven fours. Brief scores: Vidarbha 383 in 107.5 overs (Dhruv Shorey 74, Danish Malewar 79, Yash Rathod 54; Shivam Dube 5/49, Shams Mulani 2/62) lead Mumbai 188/7 in 59 overs (Akash Anand 67*; Yash Thakur 2/56, Parth Rekhade 3/16) by 195 runs. Advantage Kerala against Gujarat Mohammed Azharudeen's dogged 149 not out, his first hundred in red ball cricket in seven years, took Kerala to a commanding 418/7 at stumps on day two of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Gujarat here. Kerala, who have not gone past the semifinals in the premier domestic red ball event, had resumed the day at 206 for four. Skipper Sachin Baby, who was on 69 overnight, did not trouble the scorers on the following day as he was removed by left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla on the second ball of the day. A 149-run stand between Azharudeen and Salman Nizar (52 off 202) followed, taking Kerala past the 350-run mark. On day three, Kerala would like to bat as long as possible and then aim for the all-important first-innings lead over the home team on a flat track. Azharudeen, who was on 30 overnight, carried his bat through the day with his unbeaten 149 coming off 303 balls. Remarkably, it was the 30-year-old's second first-class hundred and first after seven years, having made his Ranji debut back in November 2015. Nagwaswalla was the pick of Gujarat bowlers on Tuesday and has taken three wickets thus far. The left-arm pacer got rid of Ahammed Imran (24) towards the close of play as he frustrated the hosts with a 40-run stand with Azharudeen. After accumulating 206 on the opening day, they could only add 212 on Tuesday. Gujarat will have to be at their best with the bat to wrest the advantage from the visitors. Brief scores: Kerala 418/7 in 177 overs (Mohammed Azharudeen 149 not out; Arzan Nagwaswalla 3/64).

Ranji Trophy 2025: Vidarbha in control against Mumbai; advantage Kerala vs Gujarat

Despite being out of India&rsquo;s current selection radar, seam-bowling all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur">Shardul Thakur</a> remains hopeful, asserting that he is "always in contention" following another stellar performance for Mumbai in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy">Ranji Trophy</a> quarterfinal against Haryana on Monday.
The 33-year-old, who played a pivotal role during India&rsquo;s 2021 tour of England, has been in exceptional form this domestic season.
Thakur has emerged as Mumbai&rsquo;s fifth-highest run-scorer, amassing 396 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 44.00, which includes a century and three half-centuries. With the ball, he has been equally impactful, claiming 30 wickets at an average of 21.10. His latest heroics came on the third morning when he ran through Haryana&rsquo;s tail with a six-wicket burst, ensuring a narrow 14-run first-innings lead for Mumbai.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-ponting-highlights-saim-ayubs-absence-as-key-factor-for-pakistan-8708234">Champions Trophy 2025: Ponting highlights Saim Ayub&rsquo;s absence as key factor for Pakistan</a> "When there's no place in the team, it's naturally disappointing. And when you're not playing, sitting at home, you tend to think about it more," said Thakur, whose last Test appearance was against South Africa in Centurion in December 2023.
"But once I step onto the field, my entire focus is on the match&mdash;whether it's club cricket, Ranji Trophy, IPL, or playing for India. To me, every cricket match is the same, regardless of the level. My aim is always to give my best, without any distractions."
<h2>Targeting England tour</h2>
With India set to tour England in June-July to start the new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/world-test-championship">World Test Championship</a> cycle, Thakur remains optimistic about returning to the national side.
"Yes. I believe I&rsquo;m in contention. The next step is to cement my team position and earn selection. That&rsquo;s always the goal," he asserted. "Right now, I&rsquo;m playing at the Ranji Trophy level, but international cricket is the highest level we all strive for. It&rsquo;s always on my mind. The motivation to play for India drives me forward. That passion, that fire, never fades."
Unsold in the IPL mega auction, Thakur is open to playing county cricket to gain experience in English conditions.
"If I get an offer, I&rsquo;ll definitely play. It would be a great new experience. Right now, there are no concrete plans, but county cricket has 6-7 matches around that time. If selected, it will help me adjust to English conditions before the (England) tour," he added.
<h2>Handling pressure</h2>
Cricket, with its unpredictable nature, brings highs and lows, and Thakur believes mental resilience is the key to handling them. "It affects every player differently. I don&rsquo;t dwell on the past. If I do, it only leads to disappointment and distracts me from the game. My focus is on what&rsquo;s in my control," he explained.
"Professional cricket comes with ups and downs. Sometimes you perform, sometimes you don&rsquo;t. Sometimes you&rsquo;re in the team, sometimes you&rsquo;re dropped. But the real challenge is bouncing back, preparing well, and delivering when it matters. That&rsquo;s the fun part of it.
"When I&rsquo;m in the nets or alone in my room, I analyze my game and think about the next match. It&rsquo;s important to train the mind to stay in the present. The subconscious may still think about selection, but on the field, my only focus is contributing&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s taking wickets or scoring runs."
<h2>SKY the X-factor</h2>
Thakur also backed his longtime Mumbai teammate Suryakumar Yadav, who returned to form with a fluent half-century in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal.
"As a player, he has always been confident. I&rsquo;ve played with him since childhood, and we know he&rsquo;s an X-factor. Whether it&rsquo;s taking a brilliant catch or hitting a couple of audacious shots, he shifts the momentum," he said.
"Yes, he got out early in the last few matches, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean he&rsquo;s out of form. A batsman getting dismissed within the first few balls doesn&rsquo;t necessarily indicate poor form. If he struggles after facing 20-25 balls, then it&rsquo;s a concern.
"We know his quality&mdash;he has been playing Ranji Trophy for over a decade, making his debut in 2010-11. He used that experience well in his innings today."
<h2>No target in mind</h2>
Mumbai has a history of lower-order resilience, and Thakur believes it is a vital part of their team culture. "Mumbai cricket has always emphasized that every batter, even No. 11, must contribute. Since childhood, we&rsquo;ve been taught that every run matters, even if it&rsquo;s just 2, 5, or 10," he said.
"Historically, Mumbai&rsquo;s lower order has stepped up in crisis situations, and we follow that tradition. It&rsquo;s ingrained in our team culture, and we hope it continues in the years to come."
Thakur further added that the team hasn&rsquo;t set a declaration score yet and aims to build as big a total as possible. "There&rsquo;s no such thing as a safe total in cricket. Two full days remain. Our goal is to bat as much as possible," he explained.
"The longer we play, the more wear and tear the pitch will undergo, which will help our spinners in the fourth innings. That&rsquo;s why we&rsquo;ll look to stretch our innings tomorrow. We haven&rsquo;t set a specific target yet," he concluded.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Shardul Thakur is Mumbai's fifth-highest run-getter, accumulating 396 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 44.00, including a century and three fifties.

Despite being out of India’s current selection radar, seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur remains hopeful, asserting that he is "always in contention" following another stellar performance for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Haryana on Monday. The 33-year-old, who played a pivotal role during India’s 2021 tour of England, has been in exceptional form this domestic season. Thakur has emerged as Mumbai’s fifth-highest run-scorer, amassing 396 runs in nine innings at an impressive average of 44.00, which includes a century and three half-centuries. With the ball, he has been equally impactful, claiming 30 wickets at an average of 21.10. His latest heroics came on the third morning when he ran through Haryana’s tail with a six-wicket burst, ensuring a narrow 14-run first-innings lead for Mumbai. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Ponting highlights Saim Ayub’s absence as key factor for Pakistan "When there's no place in the team, it's naturally disappointing. And when you're not playing, sitting at home, you tend to think about it more," said Thakur, whose last Test appearance was against South Africa in Centurion in December 2023. "But once I step onto the field, my entire focus is on the match—whether it's club cricket, Ranji Trophy, IPL, or playing for India. To me, every cricket match is the same, regardless of the level. My aim is always to give my best, without any distractions." Targeting England tour With India set to tour England in June-July to start the new World Test Championship cycle, Thakur remains optimistic about returning to the national side. "Yes. I believe I’m in contention. The next step is to cement my team position and earn selection. That’s always the goal," he asserted. "Right now, I’m playing at the Ranji Trophy level, but international cricket is the highest level we all strive for. It’s always on my mind. The motivation to play for India drives me forward. That passion, that fire, never fades." Unsold in the IPL mega auction, Thakur is open to playing county cricket to gain experience in English conditions. "If I get an offer, I’ll definitely play. It would be a great new experience. Right now, there are no concrete plans, but county cricket has 6-7 matches around that time. If selected, it will help me adjust to English conditions before the (England) tour," he added. Handling pressure Cricket, with its unpredictable nature, brings highs and lows, and Thakur believes mental resilience is the key to handling them. "It affects every player differently. I don’t dwell on the past. If I do, it only leads to disappointment and distracts me from the game. My focus is on what’s in my control," he explained. "Professional cricket comes with ups and downs. Sometimes you perform, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you’re in the team, sometimes you’re dropped. But the real challenge is bouncing back, preparing well, and delivering when it matters. That’s the fun part of it. "When I’m in the nets or alone in my room, I analyze my game and think about the next match. It’s important to train the mind to stay in the present. The subconscious may still think about selection, but on the field, my only focus is contributing—whether it’s taking wickets or scoring runs." SKY the X-factor Thakur also backed his longtime Mumbai teammate Suryakumar Yadav, who returned to form with a fluent half-century in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal. "As a player, he has always been confident. I’ve played with him since childhood, and we know he’s an X-factor. Whether it’s taking a brilliant catch or hitting a couple of audacious shots, he shifts the momentum," he said. "Yes, he got out early in the last few matches, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of form. A batsman getting dismissed within the first few balls doesn’t necessarily indicate poor form. If he struggles after facing 20-25 balls, then it’s a concern. "We know his quality—he has been playing Ranji Trophy for over a decade, making his debut in 2010-11. He used that experience well in his innings today." No target in mind Mumbai has a history of lower-order resilience, and Thakur believes it is a vital part of their team culture. "Mumbai cricket has always emphasized that every batter, even No. 11, must contribute. Since childhood, we’ve been taught that every run matters, even if it’s just 2, 5, or 10," he said. "Historically, Mumbai’s lower order has stepped up in crisis situations, and we follow that tradition. It’s ingrained in our team culture, and we hope it continues in the years to come." Thakur further added that the team hasn’t set a declaration score yet and aims to build as big a total as possible. "There’s no such thing as a safe total in cricket. Two full days remain. Our goal is to bat as much as possible," he explained. "The longer we play, the more wear and tear the pitch will undergo, which will help our spinners in the fourth innings. That’s why we’ll look to stretch our innings tomorrow. We haven’t set a specific target yet," he concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Comeback loading? Shardul Thakur confident of India return

Former India captain Virat Kohli made his return to domestic red-ball cricket on Thursday (Jan 30) as it highlighted day 1 of the Ranji Trophy group stage contest. The day also saw Mumbai veteran Shardul Thakur take a hattrick while playing against Meghalaya. However, it was Virat who stole the show as fans thronged the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as Virat tries to find form before the Champions Trophy 2025.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Virat Kohli returns for Delhi</h2>
Playing in the Ranji Trophy after over a decade, Virat&rsquo;s Delhi made a dominant start to the contest against Railways on Thursday. The visitors were 21/3 in the first hour of the opening session as Navdeep Saini (62/3) and Siddhant Sharma (35/2) dominated. Railways lost wickets at regular intervals as the home side asserted their dominance. Upendra Yadav starred with the bat for the visitors as he scored 95 before being scalped by Sumit Mathur on 95.
The wicketkeeper-batter was unfortunate to miss out on a ton before the tail was wrapped in the final session. Karn Sharma (50), Mohammad Saif (24) and Himanshu Sangwan (29) showed little resistance with the bat for the Railways before they were bowled out for 241.
Delhi were called into bat in the final session of the day, and they closed at 41/1 in 10 overs. Arpit Rana was dismissed for 10, while former India U-19 captain Yash Dhull (unbeaten 17) and Sanat Sangwan (unbeaten 9) are still in the middle. Virat is likely to come out to bat on Day 2 at number 4 on Friday as fans keep a close eye on him. Around 15,000 fans were present for the Ranji Trophy contest to witness the return of Virat Kohli at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ranji-trophy-mumbai-vs-meghalaya-watch-video-shardul-thakur-takes-hattrick-for-mumbai-8674030" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ranji Trophy, Mumbai vs Meghalaya: WATCH | Shardul Thakur takes hattrick for Mumbai</a>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Shardul scalps hattrick</h2>
In another match, Shardul Thakur made headlines with a hattrick against Meghalaya for Mumbai. The veteran scalped four wickets as he and Mohit Avasthi demolished the opposition batting line-up as Meghalaya were bowled out for 86. Mumbai then came out to bat and closed the day on 213/2 with Siddhesh Lad (89) and Ajinkya Rahane (83) in the middle.

Sports, Cricket: Former India captain Virat Kohli made his return to domestic red-ball cricket on Thursday as it highlighted day 1 of the Ranji Trophy group stage contest. 

Former India captain Virat Kohli made his return to domestic red-ball cricket on Thursday (Jan 30) as it highlighted day 1 of the Ranji Trophy group stage contest. The day also saw Mumbai veteran Shardul Thakur take a hattrick while playing against Meghalaya. However, it was Virat who stole the show as fans thronged the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as Virat tries to find form before the Champions Trophy 2025. Virat Kohli returns for Delhi Playing in the Ranji Trophy after over a decade, Virat’s Delhi made a dominant start to the contest against Railways on Thursday. The visitors were 21/3 in the first hour of the opening session as Navdeep Saini (62/3) and Siddhant Sharma (35/2) dominated. Railways lost wickets at regular intervals as the home side asserted their dominance. Upendra Yadav starred with the bat for the visitors as he scored 95 before being scalped by Sumit Mathur on 95. The wicketkeeper-batter was unfortunate to miss out on a ton before the tail was wrapped in the final session. Karn Sharma (50), Mohammad Saif (24) and Himanshu Sangwan (29) showed little resistance with the bat for the Railways before they were bowled out for 241. Delhi were called into bat in the final session of the day, and they closed at 41/1 in 10 overs. Arpit Rana was dismissed for 10, while former India U-19 captain Yash Dhull (unbeaten 17) and Sanat Sangwan (unbeaten 9) are still in the middle. Virat is likely to come out to bat on Day 2 at number 4 on Friday as fans keep a close eye on him. Around 15,000 fans were present for the Ranji Trophy contest to witness the return of Virat Kohli at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. ALSO READ | Ranji Trophy, Mumbai vs Meghalaya: WATCH | Shardul Thakur takes hattrick for Mumbai Shardul scalps hattrick In another match, Shardul Thakur made headlines with a hattrick against Meghalaya for Mumbai. The veteran scalped four wickets as he and Mohit Avasthi demolished the opposition batting line-up as Meghalaya were bowled out for 86. Mumbai then came out to bat and closed the day on 213/2 with Siddhesh Lad (89) and Ajinkya Rahane (83) in the middle.

Ranji Trophy wrap: Virat Kohli's return headlines Day 1; Shardul Thakur takes hattrick for champions Mumbai

Mumbai all-rounder <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/shardul-thakur" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Shardul Thakur</a> rocked Meghalaya in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ranji-trophy" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ranji Trophy</a> match on Thursday (Jan 30) with a hattrick. Shardul removed Balchander Anirudh, Sumit Kumar, Jaskirat Singh Sachdevaon on last three balls of the third over in first innings to complete his hattrick.
Shardul first bowled Anirudh on the fourth ball of his over before sending back Sumit who was caught by Shams Mulani on the next ball. He then clean bowled Sachdeva to complete his hattrick. Have a look at the videos below:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Balchander Anirudh ✅ Sumit Kumar ✅ Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva ✅ Shardul Thakur is on fire 🔥 He's picked up a 𝗵𝗮𝘁-𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 to help Mumbai bowl out Meghalaya for 86 👌👌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RanjiTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RanjiTrophy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/imShard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imShard</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/MumbaiCricAssoc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MumbaiCricAssoc</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/9ApJe0CgxG">https://t.co/9ApJe0CgxG</a> <a href="https://t.co/B9azjgx1JB">pic.twitter.com/B9azjgx1JB</a>
&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIdomestic/status/1884859096089886890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Mumbai all over Meghalaya</h2>
Electing to field first after winning the toss, Mumbai were on top in the first over itself when Thakur sent back Nishanta Chakraborty for a duck. In the next over, Mohit Avasthi clean bowled Kishan Lyngdoh before Thakur took his hattrick.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/virat-kohli-delhi-vs-railways-ranji-trophy-live-cricket-match-score-card-today-jan-28-live-blog-8669798" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Virat Kohli in Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy Match Score and Updates</a>
Avasthi then took one more wicket in the fourth over as Meghalaya were down on its knees with six wickets gone for just two runs on the board.
Meghalaya's lower order then tried to wrest the free fall. Pringsang Sangma scored 19 runs, skipper Akash Choudhary managed 16, Anish Charak hit 17 while Himan Phukan top scored with 28 off 24 balls. Meghalaya, however, were still bowled out for a paltry 86 runs.
For Mumbai, Thakur picked 4/43 in his 11 overs while Avasthi took 3/27 in seven overs. Apart from them, Sylvester D&rsquo;Souza returned the figures of 2/14 while Mulani picked 1/1 in the only over he bowled.
Thakur had also played an important role for Mumbai in the last match against Jammu and Kashmir with bat and ball. The match got attention for India skipper&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/rohit-sharma">Rohit Sharma</a>'s participation but he couldn't perform according to his stature.
Thakur scored 51 in the first innings and 119 in the second to go with his two wickets in J&amp;K's first innings but Mumbai eventually went on to lose the match by five wickets.

Ranji Trophy: Mumbai's Shardul removed Balchander Anirudh, Sumit Kumar, Jaskirat Singh Sachdevaon on last three balls of the third over in first innings to complete his hattrick. Cricket Sports

Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur rocked Meghalaya in Ranji Trophy match on Thursday (Jan 30) with a hattrick. Shardul removed Balchander Anirudh, Sumit Kumar, Jaskirat Singh Sachdevaon on last three balls of the third over in first innings to complete his hattrick. Shardul first bowled Anirudh on the fourth ball of his over before sending back Sumit who was caught by Shams Mulani on the next ball. He then clean bowled Sachdeva to complete his hattrick. Have a look at the videos below: Balchander Anirudh ✅ Sumit Kumar ✅ Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva ✅ Shardul Thakur is on fire 🔥 He's picked up a 𝗵𝗮𝘁-𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 to help Mumbai bowl out Meghalaya for 86 👌👌#RanjiTrophy | @imShard | @MumbaiCricAssoc | @IDFCFIRSTBank Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9ApJe0CgxG pic.twitter.com/B9azjgx1JB — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 30, 2025 Mumbai all over Meghalaya Electing to field first after winning the toss, Mumbai were on top in the first over itself when Thakur sent back Nishanta Chakraborty for a duck. In the next over, Mohit Avasthi clean bowled Kishan Lyngdoh before Thakur took his hattrick. Also Read: Virat Kohli in Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy Match Score and Updates Avasthi then took one more wicket in the fourth over as Meghalaya were down on its knees with six wickets gone for just two runs on the board. Meghalaya's lower order then tried to wrest the free fall. Pringsang Sangma scored 19 runs, skipper Akash Choudhary managed 16, Anish Charak hit 17 while Himan Phukan top scored with 28 off 24 balls. Meghalaya, however, were still bowled out for a paltry 86 runs. For Mumbai, Thakur picked 4/43 in his 11 overs while Avasthi took 3/27 in seven overs. Apart from them, Sylvester D’Souza returned the figures of 2/14 while Mulani picked 1/1 in the only over he bowled. Thakur had also played an important role for Mumbai in the last match against Jammu and Kashmir with bat and ball. The match got attention for India skipper Rohit Sharma's participation but he couldn't perform according to his stature. Thakur scored 51 in the first innings and 119 in the second to go with his two wickets in J&K's first innings but Mumbai eventually went on to lose the match by five wickets.

Ranji Trophy, Mumbai vs Meghalaya: WATCH | Shardul Thakur takes hattrick for Mumbai

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur conceded 69 runs for one wicket in four overs against Kerala in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), registering an unwanted record to his name. Four days after he remained unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thakur endured an unforgettable outing in India's premier domestic T20 tournament.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/bgt-202425-shubman-gill-returns-to-net-practice-ahead-of-prime-ministers-xi-clash-780219">BGT 2024/25: Shubman Gill returns to net practice ahead of Prime Ministers XI clash</a>

With such dismal figures, Thakur now shares this dubious distinction with Ramesh Raul for the bowler to concede the most runs in this tournament's history.

Meanwhile, Kerala batters made light work of Mumbai bowlers, smashing them for a whopping 234 for five in 20 overs, with batters Salman Nizar (99*) and Rohan Kunnummal (87) leading the scoring charts. Although Thakur accounted for Kerala captain Sanju Samson on a duck in his first over, he conceded nearly 70 runs in his next three overs.&nbsp;

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Shardul Thakur concedes MOST runs in an SMAT innings. 
 
69 - Shardul Thakur (Mumbai) v Kerala, 2024* 
69 - Ramesh Rahul (Arunachal) v Haryana, 2024 
67 - Pagadala Naidu (Hyderabad) v Mumbai, 2010 
67 - Balachandra Akhil (Karnataka) v Tamil Nadu, 2010 
67 - Licha Tehi (Arunachal) v… <a href="https://t.co/1DtllTy69z">pic.twitter.com/1DtllTy69z</a>
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) <a href="https://twitter.com/kaustats/status/1862431421794861117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Kerala’s attacking play left Mumbai bowlers searching for answers, with all remaining bowlers going over eight runs per over in the first innings. In reply, Mumbai’s innings ended on 191 for nine, losing the game by 43 runs. For the star-studded Mumbai side, veteran Ajinkya Rahane scored the most runs, 68 off 35 balls, including five fours and four sixes, while Prithvi Shaw (23), the skipper Shreyas Iyer (32) and Hardik Tamore (23) contributed little with the bat. For Kerala, MD Nidheesh picked four for 30 in four overs.

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Victory for Kerala 🙌 
 
They beat Mumbai by 43 runs 👌 
 
Nidheesh MD Shines with 4/30 as Kerala restrict Mumbai to 191, defending 235. 
 
Ajinkya Rahane played a fighting knock of 68(35) for Mumbai.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SMAT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SMAT</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> 
 
Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/5giWG6lAFG">https://t.co/5giWG6lAFG</a> <a href="https://t.co/um4bhTbPNE">pic.twitter.com/um4bhTbPNE</a>
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIdomestic/status/1862422957404168349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>No Shardul in IPL 2025</h2>

Shardul was part of Chennai Super Kings squad the last time, winning IPL thrice (2018, 2021 and 2023) with them across two stints (2018-2021 and 2023). Picked as the pace-bowling all-rounder, Thakur featured in nine matches the previous season and 11 in the one before that (for Delhi Capitals), pocketing 12 wickets in 20 games played across two seasons.&nbsp;

His best season, however, was in 2021, when playing for CSK, Thakur picked 21 wickets in 16 contested matches. In IPL 2022, Thakur played all 14 games, returning with 15 scalps.

Thakur has played 95 matches in the cash-rich league, scoring 307 runs and picking 94 wickets at 9.23.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur conceded 69 runs for one wicket in four overs against Kerala in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), registering an unwanted record to his name.

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur conceded 69 runs for one wicket in four overs against Kerala in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), registering an unwanted record to his name. Four days after he remained unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Thakur endured an unforgettable outing in India's premier domestic T20 tournament. ALSO READ: BGT 2024/25: Shubman Gill returns to net practice ahead of Prime Ministers XI clash With such dismal figures, Thakur now shares this dubious distinction with Ramesh Raul for the bowler to concede the most runs in this tournament's history. Meanwhile, Kerala batters made light work of Mumbai bowlers, smashing them for a whopping 234 for five in 20 overs, with batters Salman Nizar (99*) and Rohan Kunnummal (87) leading the scoring charts. Although Thakur accounted for Kerala captain Sanju Samson on a duck in his first over, he conceded nearly 70 runs in his next three overs. Shardul Thakur concedes MOST runs in an SMAT innings. 69 - Shardul Thakur (Mumbai) v Kerala, 2024* 69 - Ramesh Rahul (Arunachal) v Haryana, 2024 67 - Pagadala Naidu (Hyderabad) v Mumbai, 2010 67 - Balachandra Akhil (Karnataka) v Tamil Nadu, 2010 67 - Licha Tehi (Arunachal) v… pic.twitter.com/1DtllTy69z — Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 29, 2024 × Kerala’s attacking play left Mumbai bowlers searching for answers, with all remaining bowlers going over eight runs per over in the first innings. In reply, Mumbai’s innings ended on 191 for nine, losing the game by 43 runs. For the star-studded Mumbai side, veteran Ajinkya Rahane scored the most runs, 68 off 35 balls, including five fours and four sixes, while Prithvi Shaw (23), the skipper Shreyas Iyer (32) and Hardik Tamore (23) contributed little with the bat. For Kerala, MD Nidheesh picked four for 30 in four overs. Victory for Kerala 🙌 They beat Mumbai by 43 runs 👌 Nidheesh MD Shines with 4/30 as Kerala restrict Mumbai to 191, defending 235. Ajinkya Rahane played a fighting knock of 68(35) for Mumbai.#SMAT | @IDFCFIRSTBank Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/5giWG6lAFG pic.twitter.com/um4bhTbPNE — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 29, 2024 × No Shardul in IPL 2025 Shardul was part of Chennai Super Kings squad the last time, winning IPL thrice (2018, 2021 and 2023) with them across two stints (2018-2021 and 2023). Picked as the pace-bowling all-rounder, Thakur featured in nine matches the previous season and 11 in the one before that (for Delhi Capitals), pocketing 12 wickets in 20 games played across two seasons. His best season, however, was in 2021, when playing for CSK, Thakur picked 21 wickets in 16 contested matches. In IPL 2022, Thakur played all 14 games, returning with 15 scalps. Thakur has played 95 matches in the cash-rich league, scoring 307 runs and picking 94 wickets at 9.23. (With inputs from agencies)

SMAT: Shardul Thakur concedes most runs in four over after IPL 2025 auction snub

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur are likely to be included in the Indian team for the upcoming Australia tour with less than a month to go for the high-profile series. According to reports, Nitish and Shardul are seam bowling all-round options in the side as Hardik Pandya is out of favour in the red-ball format. Interestingly, Nitish only made his debut for India in the T20I format&nbsp;earlier this month while Shardul has not played for India since the 2023 Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion.

<h2>Shardul, Nitish in contention for BGT?</h2>

According to reports, the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar is considering picking a bowling all-rounder in the side as they look to challenge Australia on their turf. Shardul has played for India in high-profile away tours including England, West Indies and South Africa. He has played in 11 Test matches for India with only being played on Indian soil. During this period he has scalped 31 wickets and scored 331 runs and has been a productive asset for Rohit Sharma’s side.

On the other hand, Nitish has been in great form in the last few months and is one of the players on SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) retention list. He played a key role in SRH’s run to the final of the IPL 2024 before they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ban-vs-sa-bangladesh-battle-at-101-3-as-south-africa-threaten-innings-defeat-769827">BAN vs SA: Bangladesh battle at 101-3 as South Africa threaten innings defeat</a>

The Indian team has been victorious in the last two visits to Australia and also won the Boxing Day Test in 2020. Rohit Sharma’s men will look to repeat the heroics as they look to take a giant step towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s.

<h2>Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India tour of Australia) Schedule</h2>

1st Test: 22nd November to 26th November, Perth

2nd Test: 6th December to 10th December, Adelaide

3rd Test: 14th December to 18th December, Brisbane

4th Test: 26th December to 30th December, Melbourne

5th Test: 3rd January to 7th January, Sydney

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur are likely to be included in the Indian team for the upcoming Australia tour with less than a month to go for the high-profile series.

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur are likely to be included in the Indian team for the upcoming Australia tour with less than a month to go for the high-profile series. According to reports, Nitish and Shardul are seam bowling all-round options in the side as Hardik Pandya is out of favour in the red-ball format. Interestingly, Nitish only made his debut for India in the T20I format earlier this month while Shardul has not played for India since the 2023 Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion. Shardul, Nitish in contention for BGT? According to reports, the selection panel led by Ajit Agarkar is considering picking a bowling all-rounder in the side as they look to challenge Australia on their turf. Shardul has played for India in high-profile away tours including England, West Indies and South Africa. He has played in 11 Test matches for India with only being played on Indian soil. During this period he has scalped 31 wickets and scored 331 runs and has been a productive asset for Rohit Sharma’s side. On the other hand, Nitish has been in great form in the last few months and is one of the players on SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) retention list. He played a key role in SRH’s run to the final of the IPL 2024 before they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). ALSO READ | BAN vs SA: Bangladesh battle at 101-3 as South Africa threaten innings defeat The Indian team has been victorious in the last two visits to Australia and also won the Boxing Day Test in 2020. Rohit Sharma’s men will look to repeat the heroics as they look to take a giant step towards the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s. Border-Gavaskar Trophy (India tour of Australia) Schedule 1st Test: 22nd November to 26th November, Perth 2nd Test: 6th December to 10th December, Adelaide 3rd Test: 14th December to 18th December, Brisbane 4th Test: 26th December to 30th December, Melbourne 5th Test: 3rd January to 7th January, Sydney

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shardul Thakur in contention for Team India - Report

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur was rushed to the hospital for high fever following his crucial 73-stand for the ninth wicket with double-centurion Sarfaraz Khan (221*) after the second day’s play in the ongoing Irani Trophy at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Per the latest reports, Shardul batted for a couple of hours in the middle, scoring 36 while running a fever reading 102ºF.

In the lead-up to the game, Thakur had a mild fever, but it got aggravated after he came onto bat for Mumbai in the first innings against the Rest of India (ROI). During his innings, Thakur took two breaks in the middle, wherein the team doctor attended him immediately.&nbsp;

Soon after the second day’s play, Mumbai’s team management rushed him to the hospital, where the doctors kept him for observation that night and on Wednesday (Oct 3). Shardul didn’t play on day three of the match, as Mumbai was a bowler short.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ed-summons-former-india-captain-mohammad-azharuddin-in-money-laundering-case-764138">ED summons former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin in money laundering case</a>

Per the Indian Express, a source close to the information revealed that because of the same reason, Thakur came out to bat late. The source added that he felt weak and slept in the dressing room after taking some medicine.

“He was not feeling well for the entire day and was running high fever, which was the main reason he came out to bat late. He was feeling weak, and he slept in the dressing room after taking medicine.”

“But he wanted to bat. We have got his blood test done for malaria and dengue. We are waiting for the results,” a source said, as quoted by The Indian Express.

<h2>Thakur showed heart</h2>

Meanwhile, despite having a high fever, Thakur didn’t bow down as he faced 59 balls, hitting one six and four fours. He looked to hang around in the beginning without trying to take the attacking route.&nbsp;

It was Thakur’s first match since recovering from a foot injury, for which he underwent surgery in London this June. Thakur suffered this injury sometime during the Ranji Trophy last season but played through pain throughout the season, helping the team lift the title earlier in March.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur was rushed to the hospital for high fever following his crucial 73-stand for the ninth wicket with double-centurion Sarfaraz Khan (221*) after the second day’s play in the ongoing Irani Trophy at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur was rushed to the hospital for high fever following his crucial 73-stand for the ninth wicket with double-centurion Sarfaraz Khan (221*) after the second day’s play in the ongoing Irani Trophy at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Per the latest reports, Shardul batted for a couple of hours in the middle, scoring 36 while running a fever reading 102ºF. In the lead-up to the game, Thakur had a mild fever, but it got aggravated after he came onto bat for Mumbai in the first innings against the Rest of India (ROI). During his innings, Thakur took two breaks in the middle, wherein the team doctor attended him immediately. Soon after the second day’s play, Mumbai’s team management rushed him to the hospital, where the doctors kept him for observation that night and on Wednesday (Oct 3). Shardul didn’t play on day three of the match, as Mumbai was a bowler short. ALSO READ: ED summons former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin in money laundering case Per the Indian Express, a source close to the information revealed that because of the same reason, Thakur came out to bat late. The source added that he felt weak and slept in the dressing room after taking some medicine. “He was not feeling well for the entire day and was running high fever, which was the main reason he came out to bat late. He was feeling weak, and he slept in the dressing room after taking medicine.” “But he wanted to bat. We have got his blood test done for malaria and dengue. We are waiting for the results,” a source said, as quoted by The Indian Express. Thakur showed heart Meanwhile, despite having a high fever, Thakur didn’t bow down as he faced 59 balls, hitting one six and four fours. He looked to hang around in the beginning without trying to take the attacking route. It was Thakur’s first match since recovering from a foot injury, for which he underwent surgery in London this June. Thakur suffered this injury sometime during the Ranji Trophy last season but played through pain throughout the season, helping the team lift the title earlier in March. (With inputs from agencies)

Irani Trophy 2025: Mumbai's Shardul Thakur rushed to hospital after day 2 play

India coach Rahul Dravid has called for hearing players about tough domestic schedule and has asked for a review about the same. Dravid made the comments after India wrapped up the five-match Test series against England with a 4-1 win in Dharamsala on Saturday (Mar 9). Notably, India all-rounder Shardul Thakur had raised the issue of three-day gaps between the games in the ongoing Ranji Trophy (India's premier domestic tournament) after winning the semi-final for Mumbai.

"I saw some of the comments Shardul [Thakur], I think, made and, in fact, some of the [new] boys who've come into the team [have said it] as well," said Dravid after&nbsp;India beat England by an innings and 64 runs in Dharamsala Test.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mega-auctions-to-be-scrapped-ipl-chairman-arun-dhumal-provides-update-698473">Mega auctions to be scrapped? IPL chairman Arun Dhumal provides update</a>

"Some comment about how tough the domestic schedule is, especially in a country like India with the amount of travel involved. So yeah, we need to hear the players. That's a very important thing in a lot of these things.

"You need to hear your players because they are the ones going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line; and if there are enough voices saying that, then yeah, I think there's some need to look at it, and see how we can manage our schedules. It's a long season already in India. It's tough," added Dravid.

He also said that there's need to review&nbsp;some domestic tournaments&nbsp;and that players should also be involved in the discussion for the same.

"Maybe we need to relook and see whether some of the tournaments that we are conducting are necessary in this day and age or they are not necessary. There needs to be an all-round review [involving] coaches and players, especially the guys who are part of the domestic circuit," said the India coach.

After the Ranji Trophy final, which started Sunday (Mar 10) between Vidarbha and Mumbai, the premier T20 tournament Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin from March 22.

India coach Rahul Dravid has called for hearing players about tough domestic schedule and has asked for a review about the same. Dravid made the comments after India wrapped up the five-match Test series against England with a 4-1 win in Dharamsala on Saturday (Mar 9).

India coach Rahul Dravid has called for hearing players about tough domestic schedule and has asked for a review about the same. Dravid made the comments after India wrapped up the five-match Test series against England with a 4-1 win in Dharamsala on Saturday (Mar 9). Notably, India all-rounder Shardul Thakur had raised the issue of three-day gaps between the games in the ongoing Ranji Trophy (India's premier domestic tournament) after winning the semi-final for Mumbai. "I saw some of the comments Shardul [Thakur], I think, made and, in fact, some of the [new] boys who've come into the team [have said it] as well," said Dravid after India beat England by an innings and 64 runs in Dharamsala Test. Also Read: Mega auctions to be scrapped? IPL chairman Arun Dhumal provides update "Some comment about how tough the domestic schedule is, especially in a country like India with the amount of travel involved. So yeah, we need to hear the players. That's a very important thing in a lot of these things. "You need to hear your players because they are the ones going through the grind and putting their bodies on the line; and if there are enough voices saying that, then yeah, I think there's some need to look at it, and see how we can manage our schedules. It's a long season already in India. It's tough," added Dravid. He also said that there's need to review some domestic tournaments and that players should also be involved in the discussion for the same. "Maybe we need to relook and see whether some of the tournaments that we are conducting are necessary in this day and age or they are not necessary. There needs to be an all-round review [involving] coaches and players, especially the guys who are part of the domestic circuit," said the India coach. After the Ranji Trophy final, which started Sunday (Mar 10) between Vidarbha and Mumbai, the premier T20 tournament Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin from March 22.

'We need to relook,' says India coach Rahul Dravid on domestic schedule

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has called for more breaks between the games in the premier domestic first-class tournament Ranji Trophy. Thakur made the comments after rescuing his Ranji side Mumbai with a century in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu on Sunday (March 3).&nbsp;

"If boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be a lot of injuries across the country," Thakur said after coming in to bat with Mumbai at 106/6 and scoring 109 to take his side to 290 by the time he became the ninth wicket to fall. Thanks to Thakur's maiden first-class hundred, Mumbai were 144 runs ahead of Tamil Nadu's 146 by the time he went back to the dressing room. &nbsp;

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"Next year, they [the BCCI] have to re-look at it, and give more [of a] break. When I remember playing Ranji Trophy back in the day, good seven to eight years back, [the] first three games used to have [a] three-day break, and then it was [a] four-day break, and knockouts were played [with] five-day breaks," he added.

Tamil Nadu skipper R Sai Kishore, who had &nbsp;Mumbai on the rails with a five-for ahead of Thakur's sensational counter-attack, also echoed the same views.

"A few players feel the same thing," said Sai Kishore. "Fast bowlers are extra tired because you travel on one day. For me, I don't train much because of the three-day thing. I bowl directly match-to-match, so the load on my body is fine. I don't strain myself in training pre-match. I am managing myself that way, but it should be harder for the fast bowlers," he added.

As for the match, Mumbai's last wicket pair of Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande increased Tamil Nadu's worries by adding 63 unbeaten runs. At the end of day 2's (March 3) play, Mumbai were 353/9, having taken a substantial lead of 207 runs in the first innings.

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has called for more breaks between the games in the premier domestic first-class tournament Ranji Trophy. Thakur made the comments after rescuing his Ranji side Mumbai with a century in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu on Sunday (March 3).

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has called for more breaks between the games in the premier domestic first-class tournament Ranji Trophy. Thakur made the comments after rescuing his Ranji side Mumbai with a century in the semi-final against Tamil Nadu on Sunday (March 3). "If boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be a lot of injuries across the country," Thakur said after coming in to bat with Mumbai at 106/6 and scoring 109 to take his side to 290 by the time he became the ninth wicket to fall. Thanks to Thakur's maiden first-class hundred, Mumbai were 144 runs ahead of Tamil Nadu's 146 by the time he went back to the dressing room. Also Read: PSL franchise owner calls out Pakistan Cricket over 'humiliating' pacer Haris Rauf "Next year, they [the BCCI] have to re-look at it, and give more [of a] break. When I remember playing Ranji Trophy back in the day, good seven to eight years back, [the] first three games used to have [a] three-day break, and then it was [a] four-day break, and knockouts were played [with] five-day breaks," he added. Tamil Nadu skipper R Sai Kishore, who had Mumbai on the rails with a five-for ahead of Thakur's sensational counter-attack, also echoed the same views. "A few players feel the same thing," said Sai Kishore. "Fast bowlers are extra tired because you travel on one day. For me, I don't train much because of the three-day thing. I bowl directly match-to-match, so the load on my body is fine. I don't strain myself in training pre-match. I am managing myself that way, but it should be harder for the fast bowlers," he added. As for the match, Mumbai's last wicket pair of Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande increased Tamil Nadu's worries by adding 63 unbeaten runs. At the end of day 2's (March 3) play, Mumbai were 353/9, having taken a substantial lead of 207 runs in the first innings.

'There will be a lot of injuries', warns India all-rounder Shardul Thakur about crammed domestic schedule

Mumbai thrashed Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs to enter their 47th Ranji Trophy final on Monday (March 4). The 41-time Ranji Trophy winners produced a brilliant comeback to beat TN and storm into the final, where they will play the winner of the second semifinal, where Vidarbha have locked horns with Madhya Pradesh. Talking about the first semifinal, nothing clicked for the&nbsp;B Sai Kishore-led side even though they had a chance to take a first-innings lead. Shardul Thakur's stunning 109, coupled with a four-wicket haul in the match, propelled his side to the summit clash.&nbsp;

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𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥! 👏 
 
A superb performance from the <a href="https://twitter.com/ajinkyarahane88?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ajinkyarahane88</a>-led side as they beat Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs in Semi Final 2 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RanjiTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RanjiTrophy</a> 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MUMvTN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MUMvTN</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SF2?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SF2</a> 
 
Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/9tosMLk9TT">https://t.co/9tosMLk9TT</a> <a href="https://t.co/bOikVOmBn1">pic.twitter.com/bOikVOmBn1</a>
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCIdomestic/status/1764596538960208339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Winning the toss, TN opted to bat first and were soon reduced to 42 for 5. Only Vijay Shankar (44) showed some resistance before his side bundled out for a paltry 146 in 64.1 overs with&nbsp;Tushar Deshpande (3 for 24) being Mumbai's top performer with the ball. In reply, MI were tottering at 106 for 7 before Shardul turned it around for his side. The all-rounder scored a memorable 109 -- laced with 13 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 104.81 -- whereas keeper-batter Hardik Tamore (35),&nbsp;Tanush Kotian (89) and Deshpande (26) also scored vital runs down the order.&nbsp;

As a result, Mumbai posted 378; taking a massive 232-run lead. Captain Sai Kishore took 6 for 99 but couldn't help his side restrict Mumbai under 150-175.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2024-rajasthan-royals-spinner-r-ashwin-heaps-praise-on-phenomenal-captain-sanju-samson-696437">IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals spinner R Ashwin heaps praise on 'phenomenal' captain Sanju Samson</a>

In their second innings, TN once again fell flat with Shams Mulani picking a four-fer. The likes of Shardul, Mohit Avasthi and Kotian also chipped in with two wickets each. From TN, only Baba Indrajith (70) applied himself in the middle but his knock only helped the team go past their first-innings score. TN got dismissed for 162 and lost&nbsp;by an innings and 70 runs.&nbsp;

The 2023/24 season finale will get underway on March 10.

Mumbai thrashed Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs to enter their 47th Ranji Trophy final on Monday (March 4). The 41-time Ranji Trophy winners produced a brilliant comeback to beat TN and storm into the final, where they will play the winner of the second semifinal, where Vidarbha have locked horns with Madhya Pradesh.

Mumbai thrashed Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs to enter their 47th Ranji Trophy final on Monday (March 4). The 41-time Ranji Trophy winners produced a brilliant comeback to beat TN and storm into the final, where they will play the winner of the second semifinal, where Vidarbha have locked horns with Madhya Pradesh. Talking about the first semifinal, nothing clicked for the B Sai Kishore-led side even though they had a chance to take a first-innings lead. Shardul Thakur's stunning 109, coupled with a four-wicket haul in the match, propelled his side to the summit clash. 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥! 👏 A superb performance from the @ajinkyarahane88-led side as they beat Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs in Semi Final 2 of the @IDFCFIRSTBank #RanjiTrophy 🙌#MUMvTN | #SF2 Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9tosMLk9TT pic.twitter.com/bOikVOmBn1 — BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) March 4, 2024 × Winning the toss, TN opted to bat first and were soon reduced to 42 for 5. Only Vijay Shankar (44) showed some resistance before his side bundled out for a paltry 146 in 64.1 overs with Tushar Deshpande (3 for 24) being Mumbai's top performer with the ball. In reply, MI were tottering at 106 for 7 before Shardul turned it around for his side. The all-rounder scored a memorable 109 -- laced with 13 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 104.81 -- whereas keeper-batter Hardik Tamore (35), Tanush Kotian (89) and Deshpande (26) also scored vital runs down the order. As a result, Mumbai posted 378; taking a massive 232-run lead. Captain Sai Kishore took 6 for 99 but couldn't help his side restrict Mumbai under 150-175. Also read: IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals spinner R Ashwin heaps praise on 'phenomenal' captain Sanju Samson In their second innings, TN once again fell flat with Shams Mulani picking a four-fer. The likes of Shardul, Mohit Avasthi and Kotian also chipped in with two wickets each. From TN, only Baba Indrajith (70) applied himself in the middle but his knock only helped the team go past their first-innings score. TN got dismissed for 162 and lost by an innings and 70 runs. The 2023/24 season finale will get underway on March 10.

Mumbai hammer Tamil Nadu by an innings and 70 runs to enter 47th Ranji Trophy final

India receives a massive boost ahead of the New Year’s Test against South Africa in Cape Town as all-rounder Shardul Thakur is declared fit and available for selection following an injury scare during an optional training session. Thakur got hit on his left shoulder while facing throwdowns following the end of the Boxing Day Test, which ended within three days, with India losing by an innings and 32 runs.

Per the sources close to the information, Thakur is doing Okay, as the team management opted against recommending him undergo any treatment or scans. Despite suffering the blow during an optional session on Saturday, Thakur continued batting.

Meanwhile, since that was an optional session, only a handful of Indian players outside of Thakur, including captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Ashwin, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna and KS Bharat, took guard, with members of support staff accompanying them.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/playing-a-bit-too-aggressively-sunil-gavsakar-highlights-flaw-in-shubman-gills-approach-675232">'Playing a bit too aggressively': Sunil Gavsakar highlights flaw in Shubman Gill's approach</a>

The Indian Team will fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Sunday for the second Test scheduled to start on January 3. Although several changes for the must-win game for India are expected, there is no word on Bharat replacing KL Rahul as a keeper in the side.&nbsp;

The India batter smashed his eighth Test ton in the first innings in Centurion and kept wickets on a tricky track. Despite this new challenge of keeping wickets in Tests, KL fared well and will retain his place as the keeper-batter for the next game.

<h2>Jadeja declared fit for New Year’s Test</h2>

On the morning of day one of the first Test in Centurion, Jadeja pulled up his back and got ruled out, with veteran Ravi Ashwin playing instead. The lanky spinner failed to inspire with both bat and ball, picking just one wicket.

With Jadeja now recovered from the ‘upper back spasm’, the all-rounder returned in contention for a place in the XI for the New Year’s Test. If he gets picked, Ashwin is most likely to sit out.

Meanwhile, following Prasidh Krishna’s below-par Test debut show, the team management is said to be contemplating playing Avesh Khan (roped in as Shami’s replacement) ahead of him, with the team eyeing a win to level-series and share honours.

India receives a massive boost ahead of the New Year’s Test against South Africa in Cape Town as all-rounder Shardul Thakur is declared fit and available for selection following an injury scare during an optional training session.

India receives a massive boost ahead of the New Year’s Test against South Africa in Cape Town as all-rounder Shardul Thakur is declared fit and available for selection following an injury scare during an optional training session. Thakur got hit on his left shoulder while facing throwdowns following the end of the Boxing Day Test, which ended within three days, with India losing by an innings and 32 runs. Per the sources close to the information, Thakur is doing Okay, as the team management opted against recommending him undergo any treatment or scans. Despite suffering the blow during an optional session on Saturday, Thakur continued batting. Meanwhile, since that was an optional session, only a handful of Indian players outside of Thakur, including captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Ashwin, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna and KS Bharat, took guard, with members of support staff accompanying them. ALSO READ: 'Playing a bit too aggressively': Sunil Gavsakar highlights flaw in Shubman Gill's approach The Indian Team will fly from Johannesburg to Cape Town on Sunday for the second Test scheduled to start on January 3. Although several changes for the must-win game for India are expected, there is no word on Bharat replacing KL Rahul as a keeper in the side. The India batter smashed his eighth Test ton in the first innings in Centurion and kept wickets on a tricky track. Despite this new challenge of keeping wickets in Tests, KL fared well and will retain his place as the keeper-batter for the next game. Jadeja declared fit for New Year’s Test On the morning of day one of the first Test in Centurion, Jadeja pulled up his back and got ruled out, with veteran Ravi Ashwin playing instead. The lanky spinner failed to inspire with both bat and ball, picking just one wicket. With Jadeja now recovered from the ‘upper back spasm’, the all-rounder returned in contention for a place in the XI for the New Year’s Test. If he gets picked, Ashwin is most likely to sit out. Meanwhile, following Prasidh Krishna’s below-par Test debut show, the team management is said to be contemplating playing Avesh Khan (roped in as Shami’s replacement) ahead of him, with the team eyeing a win to level-series and share honours.

Boost for India ahead of New Year’s Test as Shardul Thakur declared fit amid injury scare

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur was injured on Saturday, December 30 while batting during a net session. Thakur was hit on shoulder when he was taking throwdowns and the extent of seriousness of the injury is yet to be determined. The all-rounder will undergo scans if required. The developments were first reported by the news agency PTI.

Thakur was attended by the physio immediately after being hit but continued to bat after that. He, however, didn't bowl in the session. Once he was done with batting, the physio put an ice pack and sling on Thakur's shoulder afterwards.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/wasnt-enough-evidence-to-give-rizwan-out-says-pak-director-of-cricket-hafeez-after-loss-vs-aus-in-2nd-test-675047">‘Wasn’t enough evidence to give Rizwan out,’ says Pak director of cricket Hafeez after loss vs AUS in 2nd Test</a>

The all-rounder had played the first Test which India lost by an innings and 32 runs but had a below par performance of his own. He scored handy 24 runs in the first innings but mustered just 2 runs in the second.

As for bowling, his main suit, he returned the figures of 19-2-101-1 in the only innings. It is yet to be known if he'll play in the next Test which starts on January 3, 2024.

Coetzee ruled out of second Test&nbsp;

South Africa have been dealt a huge blow ahead of&nbsp;the second Test match against India as star bowler Gerald Coetzee was ruled out due to pelvic inflammation. The second Test set to start on Wednesday (January 3) in Cape Town will see the Proteas star sit on the sidelines as they lead the series 1-0.

The injury also puts doubts on his involvement in the SA20 scheduled to begin on January 10. He was recently bought by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League auctions for $600, 000.

Cricket South Africa on the flip side have opted not to name a replacement with Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder as fast-bowling options already present in the squad. Keshav Maharaj is another player who can replace the speedster if the Proteas decide to go with a spin option.

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur was injured on Saturday, December 30 while batting during a net session. Thakur was hit on shoulder when he was taking throwdowns and the extent of seriousness of the injury is yet to be determined.

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur was injured on Saturday, December 30 while batting during a net session. Thakur was hit on shoulder when he was taking throwdowns and the extent of seriousness of the injury is yet to be determined. The all-rounder will undergo scans if required. The developments were first reported by the news agency PTI. Thakur was attended by the physio immediately after being hit but continued to bat after that. He, however, didn't bowl in the session. Once he was done with batting, the physio put an ice pack and sling on Thakur's shoulder afterwards. Also Read: ‘Wasn’t enough evidence to give Rizwan out,’ says Pak director of cricket Hafeez after loss vs AUS in 2nd Test The all-rounder had played the first Test which India lost by an innings and 32 runs but had a below par performance of his own. He scored handy 24 runs in the first innings but mustered just 2 runs in the second. As for bowling, his main suit, he returned the figures of 19-2-101-1 in the only innings. It is yet to be known if he'll play in the next Test which starts on January 3, 2024. Coetzee ruled out of second Test South Africa have been dealt a huge blow ahead of the second Test match against India as star bowler Gerald Coetzee was ruled out due to pelvic inflammation. The second Test set to start on Wednesday (January 3) in Cape Town will see the Proteas star sit on the sidelines as they lead the series 1-0. The injury also puts doubts on his involvement in the SA20 scheduled to begin on January 10. He was recently bought by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League auctions for $600, 000. Cricket South Africa on the flip side have opted not to name a replacement with Lungi Ngidi and Wiaan Mulder as fast-bowling options already present in the squad. Keshav Maharaj is another player who can replace the speedster if the Proteas decide to go with a spin option.

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur injures shoulder during net session

Top T20I batter for India, Suryakumar Yadav, has replaced injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya as India elected to bowl first against New Zealand in Dharamsala. Mohammed Shami got roped in for his first World Cup 2023 game, replacing Shardul Thakur.

New Zealand has named a changed XI for the marquee World Cup clash.

<h2>Here are the playing XIs of both teams –</h2>

India - Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand - Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Philips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult

<h3>India chase again</h3>

For the fifth straight time in this World Cup, the Indian Team will be batting second, continuing their unbeaten run while chasing.

Considering how well the Indian batters have performed thus far, and the dew factor, which will make a difference, electing to bowl first against New Zealand comes off a right call.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-hails-professional-and-well-structured-new-zealand-as-india-gear-up-for-marquee-world-cup-clash-649874">Kohli hails 'professional and well-structured' New Zealand as India gear up for marquee World Cup clash</a>

With Hardik unavailable for this match, head coach Rahul Dravid and even captain Rohit Sharma mentioned the imbalance it caused. However, to maintain the balance, the team management went ahead with the older template of playing seven batters and four bowlers.

While Suryakumar will make his World Cup debut on Sunday, Mohammed Shami has returned to the side for the first time in this tournament.

<h3>Unchanged Kiwi Team look for huge total</h3>

With each batter contributing in the four contested matches in this World Cup, the New Zealand Team looks determined to take down the in-form Indian bowling pack, consisting of Bumrah, Siraj and Shami, alongside two spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.

Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra will be key batters at the top, while Latham, Mitchell and Philips will take care of the middle-order duties.

Mark Chapman is one name yet to emerge on this World Cup stage, and given New Zealand is batting first, he can be the surprise package.

All eyes will, however, be on the pace-bowling trio of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. With them bowling on the most seam-friendly wicket in India, and that too under the lights, they will challenge the Indian batting lineup.

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Top T20I batter for India, Suryakumar Yadav, has replaced injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya as India elected to bowl first against New Zealand in Dharamsala. Mohammed Shami got roped in for his first World Cup 2023 game, replacing Shardul Thakur.

Top T20I batter for India, Suryakumar Yadav, has replaced injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya as India elected to bowl first against New Zealand in Dharamsala. Mohammed Shami got roped in for his first World Cup 2023 game, replacing Shardul Thakur. New Zealand has named a changed XI for the marquee World Cup clash. Here are the playing XIs of both teams – India - Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah New Zealand - Devon Conway, Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Philips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson and Trent Boult India chase again For the fifth straight time in this World Cup, the Indian Team will be batting second, continuing their unbeaten run while chasing. Considering how well the Indian batters have performed thus far, and the dew factor, which will make a difference, electing to bowl first against New Zealand comes off a right call. ALSO READ: Kohli hails 'professional and well-structured' New Zealand as India gear up for marquee World Cup clash With Hardik unavailable for this match, head coach Rahul Dravid and even captain Rohit Sharma mentioned the imbalance it caused. However, to maintain the balance, the team management went ahead with the older template of playing seven batters and four bowlers. While Suryakumar will make his World Cup debut on Sunday, Mohammed Shami has returned to the side for the first time in this tournament. Unchanged Kiwi Team look for huge total With each batter contributing in the four contested matches in this World Cup, the New Zealand Team looks determined to take down the in-form Indian bowling pack, consisting of Bumrah, Siraj and Shami, alongside two spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra will be key batters at the top, while Latham, Mitchell and Philips will take care of the middle-order duties. Mark Chapman is one name yet to emerge on this World Cup stage, and given New Zealand is batting first, he can be the surprise package. All eyes will, however, be on the pace-bowling trio of Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry. With them bowling on the most seam-friendly wicket in India, and that too under the lights, they will challenge the Indian batting lineup. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World Cup: Suryakumar replaces Hardik Pandya as India bowl first against New Zealand in Dharamsala

Former World Cup winner and star spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the selection of Mohammed Shami in the Indian team for the upcoming ODI World Cup contest against New Zealand. The two teams are set to lock horns in the coveted contest on Sunday (Oct 22) in Dharamsala as India look to settle a score. The Men in Blue lost to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and have revenge on the agenda when they cross roads. However, with Hardik Pandya injured, the Indian team will be forced to make a change with Mohammed Shami likely to make his first appearance.

<h2>Harbhajan backs Shami</h2>

“Suryakumar Yadav for me. I feel he should be straightaway brought in. Play Mohammed Shami in place of Shardul (Thakur) because then you get five proper bowlers. You feel Hardik Pandya needs to bowl three-four overs because Shardul might not be able to bowl his full quota of overs,” Harbhajan said on the eve of the contest.

India’s ace star all-rounder Hardik Pandya got injured during the Bangladesh contest when he twisted his ankle. As a result, he will miss the match and is already in Bengaluru for treatment and is likely to join the Indian team for the England clash in Lucknow.

For the Indian team management, they are likely to bring in Mohammed Shami in his place but according to Harbhajan, they should drop Shardul in favour of Suryakumar Yadav. According to him, this will give India five proper bowling options while Surya’s inclusion could be a blessing in disguise for the team.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-cup-chief-selector-george-bailey-lays-plans-for-travis-head-as-aussie-batter-set-for-anticipated-return-649631">World Cup: Chief selector George Bailey lays plans for Travis Head as Aussie batter set for anticipated return</a>

<h2>Teams ready for big clash</h2>

The key clash on Sunday could also see a big change in the opposition camp as Tim Southee could come in having been passed fit. Stand-in skipper Tom Latham confirmed of Southee’s availability for the match as the two will play for the first time in the ODI World Cup this tournament.

India have got off to a good start as they have beaten Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The contest on Sunday will be a repeat of the 2019 World Cup semifinal, where India lost to New Zealand in a heart-breaking contest in Manchester. Despite injuries in the camp, New Zealand have hardly suffered from any crisis on the field as they have gotten the better of England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands.

&nbsp;

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Former World Cup winner and star spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the selection of Mohammed Shami in the Indian team for the upcoming ODI World Cup contest against New Zealand.

Former World Cup winner and star spinner Harbhajan Singh has backed the selection of Mohammed Shami in the Indian team for the upcoming ODI World Cup contest against New Zealand. The two teams are set to lock horns in the coveted contest on Sunday (Oct 22) in Dharamsala as India look to settle a score. The Men in Blue lost to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup semifinal and have revenge on the agenda when they cross roads. However, with Hardik Pandya injured, the Indian team will be forced to make a change with Mohammed Shami likely to make his first appearance. Harbhajan backs Shami “Suryakumar Yadav for me. I feel he should be straightaway brought in. Play Mohammed Shami in place of Shardul (Thakur) because then you get five proper bowlers. You feel Hardik Pandya needs to bowl three-four overs because Shardul might not be able to bowl his full quota of overs,” Harbhajan said on the eve of the contest. India’s ace star all-rounder Hardik Pandya got injured during the Bangladesh contest when he twisted his ankle. As a result, he will miss the match and is already in Bengaluru for treatment and is likely to join the Indian team for the England clash in Lucknow. For the Indian team management, they are likely to bring in Mohammed Shami in his place but according to Harbhajan, they should drop Shardul in favour of Suryakumar Yadav. According to him, this will give India five proper bowling options while Surya’s inclusion could be a blessing in disguise for the team. ALSO READ | World Cup: Chief selector George Bailey lays plans for Travis Head as Aussie batter set for anticipated return Teams ready for big clash The key clash on Sunday could also see a big change in the opposition camp as Tim Southee could come in having been passed fit. Stand-in skipper Tom Latham confirmed of Southee’s availability for the match as the two will play for the first time in the ODI World Cup this tournament. India have got off to a good start as they have beaten Australia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The contest on Sunday will be a repeat of the 2019 World Cup semifinal, where India lost to New Zealand in a heart-breaking contest in Manchester. Despite injuries in the camp, New Zealand have hardly suffered from any crisis on the field as they have gotten the better of England, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

ODI World Cup 2023: Former India star makes BOLD claim ahead of New Zealand clash, urges to use Mohammed Shami

The Indian Cricket Team is closing in on announcing their final 15 for the home World Cup, starting October 5, but they wish to tick off some boxes before that. Following India’s impressive five-wicket win over Australia in the first of the three ODIs in Mohali on Friday, the team management has their eyes set on two players – Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin, whom they wish to see performing in the second ODI in Indore on Sunday.

On a good flat deck in Mohali, the returning Shreyas Iyer failed to leave any impact, getting out cheaply (run-out) on just three.&nbsp;

With a lack of runs, his chances of breaking into the final XI for India’s first game against Australia in CWC look bleak, considering how well Ishan Kishan grabbed the opportunity in Iyer’s absence in the games before.

Spin veteran Ravi Ashwin will also be under pressure to deliver on a high-scoring surface in Indore as his numbers on his return game in the ODI jersey weren’t as effective. Should Axar Patel remain injured and unavailable, Ashwin will be in line to earn a shocking call-up.&nbsp;

The young prodigy Washington Sundar, who was called up at the last moment ahead of the Asia Cup final, is also in contention for that spot in the side for the World Cup.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gautam-gambhir-reveals-indias-ultimate-challenge-at-cwc-2023-picks-this-team-as-toughest-opponent-638911">Gautam Gambhir reveals India’s ultimate challenge at CWC 2023, picks THIS team as toughest opponent</a>

Before India and Australia play their best XI in the third and final ODI in Rajkot (on Wednesday, September 27), both Ashwin and Sundar are likely to be tested in Indore.&nbsp;

Shardul Thakur, who leaked 78 runs in the first ODI, will be under pressure to perform and better his numbers in the remaining two games to ensure he still starts ahead of Mohammed Shami in the World Cup 2023, as the team management indicated earlier.

With all three finger spinners, including Ravindra Jadeja, likely to start in Indore, ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav could be rested.&nbsp;

India might also rest Jasprit Bumrah and bring in Asia Cup final hero Mohammed Siraj to share the new ball with Mohammed Shami in the second ODI.

<h2>Team management happy with SKY’s 50</h2>

Having backed India’s numero uno T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, in the ODIs, the move paid dividends as the right-handed batter scored a fifty in Mohali and helped India come out of a crunch situation during the middle orders. As per the latest reports, the management is said to have given SKY a good 50-ball window to play and settle down, which he made great use of.

His inning in Mohali has given confidence to him and the management heading into the World Cup 2023.

India lead the three-match series 1-0.

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The Indian Cricket Team is closing in on announcing their final 15 for the home World Cup, starting October 5, but they wish to tick off some boxes before that. Following India’s impressive five-wicket win over Australia in the first of the three ODIs in Mohali on Friday, the team management has their eyes set on two players – Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin, whom they wish to see performing in the second ODI in Indore on Sunday.

The Indian Cricket Team is closing in on announcing their final 15 for the home World Cup, starting October 5, but they wish to tick off some boxes before that. Following India’s impressive five-wicket win over Australia in the first of the three ODIs in Mohali on Friday, the team management has their eyes set on two players – Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin, whom they wish to see performing in the second ODI in Indore on Sunday. On a good flat deck in Mohali, the returning Shreyas Iyer failed to leave any impact, getting out cheaply (run-out) on just three. With a lack of runs, his chances of breaking into the final XI for India’s first game against Australia in CWC look bleak, considering how well Ishan Kishan grabbed the opportunity in Iyer’s absence in the games before. Spin veteran Ravi Ashwin will also be under pressure to deliver on a high-scoring surface in Indore as his numbers on his return game in the ODI jersey weren’t as effective. Should Axar Patel remain injured and unavailable, Ashwin will be in line to earn a shocking call-up. The young prodigy Washington Sundar, who was called up at the last moment ahead of the Asia Cup final, is also in contention for that spot in the side for the World Cup. ALSO READ: Gautam Gambhir reveals India’s ultimate challenge at CWC 2023, picks THIS team as toughest opponent Before India and Australia play their best XI in the third and final ODI in Rajkot (on Wednesday, September 27), both Ashwin and Sundar are likely to be tested in Indore. Shardul Thakur, who leaked 78 runs in the first ODI, will be under pressure to perform and better his numbers in the remaining two games to ensure he still starts ahead of Mohammed Shami in the World Cup 2023, as the team management indicated earlier. With all three finger spinners, including Ravindra Jadeja, likely to start in Indore, ace spinner Kuldeep Yadav could be rested. India might also rest Jasprit Bumrah and bring in Asia Cup final hero Mohammed Siraj to share the new ball with Mohammed Shami in the second ODI. Team management happy with SKY’s 50 Having backed India’s numero uno T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav, in the ODIs, the move paid dividends as the right-handed batter scored a fifty in Mohali and helped India come out of a crunch situation during the middle orders. As per the latest reports, the management is said to have given SKY a good 50-ball window to play and settle down, which he made great use of. His inning in Mohali has given confidence to him and the management heading into the World Cup 2023. India lead the three-match series 1-0. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pressure on Shreyas Iyer, Ravichandran Ashwin to deliver in Indore ODI as India look to seal CWC final 15

Team India will rest several first-team players against Bangladesh in their last Asia Cup Super Four tie on Friday, September 15. The Men in Blue were the first team to qualify for the Asia Cup final after beating Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Against Bangladesh in the dead rubber in Colombo, India could rest seamers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, bringing in Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna in their place.

The latest reports suggest that vice-captain Hardik Pandya could also be rested while bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur could return for his third game match of Asia Cup 2023.&nbsp;

Though none of the top three - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli is likely to make way for anyone, chances of watching non-regular faces in the middle order in this game are higher.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-shreyas-iyer-looks-comfortable-in-nets-following-latest-jolt-as-india-gear-up-for-bangladesh-tie-635972">Asia Cup: Shreyas Iyer looks 'comfortable' in nets following latest jolt as India gear up for Bangladesh tie</a>

KL Rahul, who returned to the ODI XI for the first time since March this year, scored a hundred against Pakistan in the previous game, while Kishan also pressed his case for a spot in the side as the World Cup approaches. Besides them, Shreyas Iyer, who sweat it out in the nets in the additional session on Thursday in Colombo, might not get included in the XI due to his fitness.

In this case, if the management decides to rest both KL and Kishan, star T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav and debutant Tilak Varma could be seen taking care of middle-order duties.&nbsp;

While SKY, as most of Suryakumar fans call him, has received backing from several former cricketers over straightaway breaking into the XI during the mega event, he would love to bank on it and convert it into a star performance.

It could also mean that Tilak Varma, the future superstar, could begin his ODI journey on a grand stage like the Asia Cup.&nbsp;

<h2>Benched players to be tried</h2>

While Shami and Krishna are likely to get a game against Bangladesh, the star performer in the bowling department - Kuldeep Yadav, will retain his place in the XI alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, both of whom played against Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, India will face the winner of the Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan match in Super Four in Colombo in the final on September 17.

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Team India will rest several first-team players against Bangladesh in their last Asia Cup Super Four tie on Friday, September 15. The Men in Blue were the first team to qualify for the Asia Cup final after beating Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Team India will rest several first-team players against Bangladesh in their last Asia Cup Super Four tie on Friday, September 15. The Men in Blue were the first team to qualify for the Asia Cup final after beating Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Against Bangladesh in the dead rubber in Colombo, India could rest seamers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, bringing in Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna in their place. The latest reports suggest that vice-captain Hardik Pandya could also be rested while bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur could return for his third game match of Asia Cup 2023. Though none of the top three - Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli is likely to make way for anyone, chances of watching non-regular faces in the middle order in this game are higher. ALSO READ: Asia Cup: Shreyas Iyer looks 'comfortable' in nets following latest jolt as India gear up for Bangladesh tie KL Rahul, who returned to the ODI XI for the first time since March this year, scored a hundred against Pakistan in the previous game, while Kishan also pressed his case for a spot in the side as the World Cup approaches. Besides them, Shreyas Iyer, who sweat it out in the nets in the additional session on Thursday in Colombo, might not get included in the XI due to his fitness. In this case, if the management decides to rest both KL and Kishan, star T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav and debutant Tilak Varma could be seen taking care of middle-order duties. While SKY, as most of Suryakumar fans call him, has received backing from several former cricketers over straightaway breaking into the XI during the mega event, he would love to bank on it and convert it into a star performance. It could also mean that Tilak Varma, the future superstar, could begin his ODI journey on a grand stage like the Asia Cup. Benched players to be tried While Shami and Krishna are likely to get a game against Bangladesh, the star performer in the bowling department - Kuldeep Yadav, will retain his place in the XI alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, both of whom played against Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, India will face the winner of the Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan match in Super Four in Colombo in the final on September 17. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Asia Cup 2023: Bumrah, Pandya to be rested for Bangladesh game, Tilak Varma likely to debut - Reports

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