What was just a rumor a few days ago has now become reality. Lucknow Super Giants have officially signed Shardul Thakur as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan. Though he went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, LSG’s decision to include him in the squad is a smart move. The Mumbai pacer joins Rishabh Pant’s side at his base price of ₹2 crore.
Shardul Thakur: A Steal Deal for Injury-Hit LSG
Given his recent form, Shardul Thakur’s inclusion in LSG is a steal deal. His medium-pace bowling could be effective on the slow pitches of Ekana Stadium, where pacers who rely on variations have been successful and Shardul possesses this ability. LSG lacked a star Indian all-rounder, and his arrival fills that gap. He has the potential to be a game-changer with the bat in the lower order.
Shardul Thakur is expected to feature in Lucknow’s opening match against Delhi Capitals on March 24. The franchise is coping with multiple injuries as Mohsin Khan has been ruled out, while Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, and Avesh Khan are unavailable for the first few matches. In this situation, Thakur has a golden opportunity to step up and make an immediate impact for LSG.
Shardul Thakur went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction due to his inconsistent performance in the 2024 season. He struggled to justify either the bowler or batter tag as he managed to take only 5 wickets and scored just 21 runs in 9 games for CSK.
After the season, he underwent foot surgery in June 2024, which became a major reason why franchises overlooked him. Teams were uncertain about his fitness, and unfortunately, he couldn’t participate in any domestic matches before the auction.
WATCH VIDEO: Spinner Krunal Pandya scares Venkatesh Iyer with a bouncer; cleans him up on very next ball
However, right after the auction, he made a strong comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, emerging as Mumbai’s highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets in their title-winning campaign. He continued his impressive form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy, delivering standout all-round performances.
In the last domestic season, the 33-year-old truly established himself as a proper all-rounder. Now, LSG may reap the rewards of the dedication Shardul Thakur has shown over the past five months.
