All-rounder Shardul Thakur continued to impress in the Ranji Trophy, achieving a remarkable six-wicket haul during the quarterfinal match against Haryana on Monday. The fast-bowling all-rounder, who has been absent from the Indian team, is making a compelling argument for his return to the red-ball squad for the upcoming series. At 33 years of age, he has demonstrated consistent performance with both bat and ball for Mumbai in recent Ranji Trophy encounters, capturing the attention of BCCI selectors and the coaching staff with his significant contributions.

Thakur's outstanding performance against Haryana was pivotal in bringing his team back into contention, as he secured six wickets. His exceptional bowling spell enabled the defending champions, Mumbai, to establish a 14-run lead, thereby gaining a strategic advantage. Shardul initiated the breakthrough by dismissing opener Lakshhya Dalal for 34 runs. He elevated his performance in subsequent spells, effectively dismantling Haryana's lower-middle order and tailenders single-handedly. He claimed the wickets of the last five batters from Haryana, allowing Mumbai to take the lead.

Exhibiting discipline in his line and length, Shardul consistently troubled the Haryana batsmen, achieving three of his wickets through LBWs, which significantly weakened their batting lineup. Mumbai bowled out Haryana for 301 runs after having posted 315 in their first innings.

Fans on social media have showered praise on Thakur's performances, advocating for his selection for the England tour scheduled for the summer.

The seamer is currently experiencing a resurgence with Mumbai following a disappointing performance in the white-ball formats during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Thakur's upward curve

Thakur acknowledged the challenging conditions faced during the white-ball tournaments, specifically the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where his economy rate was notably elevated. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he secured 10 wickets across seven matches with an economy rate of 6.56. Conversely, in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he emerged as one of the joint third-highest wicket-takers, claiming 15 wickets in nine matches, albeit with a higher economy rate of 10.51.

Since the resumption of the Ranji Trophy, Shardul has demonstrated exceptional form with the red ball, achieving eight wickets in Mumbai's most recent match against Meghalaya, which included a first-innings hat-trick, thereby revitalizing their campaign. Alongside Tanush Kotian, who also took four wickets, Thakur contributed to a dominant Mumbai victory by an innings and 456 runs over Meghalaya, positioning them at the top of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A standings. Thakur was honoured with the 'Player of the Match' accolade for his impressive four-wicket performances in both innings and for scoring 84 runs in the first innings. The fast-bowling all-rounder exhibited his batting prowess with a rapid 42-ball 84, achieving a strike rate of 200.

Following a six-wicket haul against Haryana, Shardul has elevated his season total to 30 wickets, maintaining an average of 23.95, with his best figures being 6/58. In addition, Thakur has amassed 396 runs in nine innings with the bat, averaging over 40, which includes one century and three half-centuries.

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