Everyone was shocked when Shardul Thakur went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction. The all-rounder who has featured for the Indian cricket team in all the formats and has been part of some of the most memorable Test victories in India’s history failed to attack bidders in Jeddah. When he wasn’t picked up on the first day, many expected he’d find an IPL home, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Shardul Thakur gets Ruturaj Gaikwad first & Sanju Samson next
Frustrated, in his first match after the IPL 2025 auction, he claimed two wickets against Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25. One of these scalps was that of Ruturaj Gaikwad, captain of Maharashtra and the Chennai Super Kings, his last IPL franchise.
Shardul wasn’t satisfied yet. In his next game, the ongoing Kerala vs Mumbai match, he got Sanju Samson. Smashed for a boundary, Shardul retaliated by uprooting the Kerala captain and giving his team a rollicking start. Known for his ability to swing the ball upfront, he induced an edge and castled Samson, who’s been in great nick this year and the last few months especially.
This scalp may not earn Shardul Thakur an IPL contract right now but would still show everyone that’s got it, and the all-rounder might join a team as a replacement when the IPL 2025 season starts. However, the day didn’t end there. By the end of his quota (4 overs), Shardul was hit for 69 runs, which are the fourth most expensive figures for any Indian bowler in T20 cricket. Perhaps the franchises weren’t wrong.
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Shardul Thakur’s IPL record
Shardul’s record in the IPL isn’t great. That is why he’s played for five different teams over the course of nine seasons. He isn’t a consistent wicket-taker and leaks way too many runs. His batting record looks like that of a tailender. A paltry average of 12 isn’t what’s expected from your all-rounder, irrespective of how many balls he faces.
| Matches | Runs | Average | Batting Strike Rate | 100s & 50s | Wickets | Economy | Bowling Strike Rate | 4w & 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 307 | 12.28 | 138.91 | 0 & 1 | 94 | 9.22 | 30.52 | 1 & 0 |
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