Shardul Thakur is having an all-time great season. The all-rounder is Mumbai’s second-highest wicket-taker and their fifth-highest scorer in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. In the second leg of the red-ball tournament, he scored 275 runs in 6 innings with one hundred and two fifties (51, 119, and 84) and took 19 wickets in 6 innings, which included a six-wicket haul in the quarterfinal against Haryana.
Shardul Thakur eyes County after IPL 2025 snub
The talented all-rounder couldn’t find a bidder at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction, and although there is still a chance, Shardul has decided to place all his eyes in the red-ball basket. According to Nisarg Naik, a talent scout, the Mumbaiker is currently in talks with the Essex County Cricket Club.
For the unaware, the IPL 2025 season and the first leg of the County Championship (April 4 to May 26) will clash. Therefore, one can ply their trade at one of them. If Shardul fails to secure an IPL contract, they go to England to play in County. One must remember that India will tour England in June to play a 5-match Test series.
“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,” Shardul had told reporters last week.
Shardul hasn’t been in the India cricket team‘s plans for around 14 months now, but such has been his performance that it wouldn’t be a shock to see him added to the squad. Also, in England, a pace-bowling all-rounder will be extremely useful. Plus, Shardul has done well in the last tour to England (2021).
Shardul Thakur’s stats in Ranji Trophy 2024-25
| Matches | Runs | Batting Average |
Wickets | Bowling Average |
Bowling Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 426 | 42.60 | 34 | 21.67 | 38.88 |
The post No IPL 2025, Shardul Thakur hunts for spot in India vs England Tests via County stint at Essex appeared first on Inside Sport India.