The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won’t have the services of Shardul Thakur for their last Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 league game. LSG plays the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Stadium on May 27. However, Thakur won’t be available for the clash as he has been allowed to leave the IPL 2025 early because of the India ‘A’ duties.
Nation first for Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur, following a string of outstanding performances in domestic red-ball cricket, has earned a spot in both the India A and main squads for England’s tour. To prepare for the high-profile Test series, players are arriving in England in batches to acclimatize to the conditions, with the management aiming to get them there immediately after the IPL.
According to RevSportz, LSG have allowed Thakur to miss the last league game to join the India A squad that has already left for England. As a preparatory series before the all-important five-match series against England, India A will play two first-class games against England Lions. The first match will be played in Canterbury from May 30 onwards and you might see Thakur play in that fixture.
It is quite a sensible decision as well, since LSG are already out of IPL 2025. They had a topsy-turvy tournament, winning just six of their 13 league games. The Rishabh Pant-led side started well but missed out in crunch situations. Thakur, himself, came in as a replacement player when Mohsin Khan was ruled out.
“Yes, we have allowed Shardul to leave for the UK. It is about national duty, and we always want our players to do well for India. Shardul has done well for us and we wish him well”, said a source close to developments, told RevSportz.
Thakur a must in England
The BCCI has fortunately rewarded the domestic performers this time around, giving chances to Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur. In the Ranji Trophy, Thakur scored 35 wickets in 9 Ranji Trophy matches and scored a commendable 505 runs at an average of 42.08. The 33-year-old was part of India’s squad when they toured England last. With the bat, he has chipped in with 3 half-centuries on English soil, including one in the World Test Championship final against Australia.
Shardul Thakur’s stats in Ranji Trophy 2024-25
| Matches | Runs | Batting Av |
Wickets | Bowling SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 505 | 42.08 | 35 | 40.00 |
| Mat | Inns | Overs | Wkts | BBM | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 | 98.0 | 10 | 4/78 | 37.10 |
| Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 7 | 173 | 60 | 24.71 | 65.03 | 3 | 20 | 4 |
India A tour schedule vs England Lions
| Match No. | Day & Date (From) | Day & Date (To) | Time (local) | Match Type | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri 30-May-25 | Mon 02-June-25 | 10:00 AM | 1st first-class vs EL | Canterbury |
| 2 | Fri 06-June-25 | Mon 09-June-25 | 10:00 AM | 2nd first-class vs EL | Northampton |
| 3 | Fri 13-June-25 | Mon 16-June-25 | 10:00 AM | Intra-squad vs India | Beckenham |
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