Hyderabad, March 28 – Indian pacer Shardul Thakur, who has been out of the national team for some time, made a powerful comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, delivering a match-winning performance for the Lucknow Super Giants.
In a recent match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Thakur picked up four wickets for 32 runs, playing a pivotal role in his team’s victory. Earlier, in the season opener against Delhi Capitals, he had taken two wickets. With a total of six wickets in just two matches, Thakur now dons the Purple Cap, awarded to the leading wicket-taker of the tournament.
The match also marked a significant personal milestone for Thakur, as he completed 100 career wickets in the IPL. Reflecting on his journey, Thakur admitted that he was disappointed when no franchise picked him during the auction. He said Lucknow Super Giants approached him due to injury concerns among their bowlers, and he saw it as an opportunity to prove his worth.
He emphasized that winning matches for the team is more important to him than individual statistics. "In cricket, such things happen," he remarked, adding that he focuses more on the impact he can make rather than the number of runs or wickets. His goal, he said, has always been to produce match-winning performances.
Thakur noted that their strategy against Hyderabad was to strike early, especially since the opposition had been scoring heavily on flat pitches. His early breakthroughs made the game considerably easier for Lucknow.
So far in his IPL career, Shardul Thakur has played for six different franchises, but his recent performances suggest that he may have found a new home with the Lucknow Super Giants.
