Until five days ago, Shardul Thakur did not have an official IPL contract. While he had been practicing with the Lucknow Super Giants and was likely to step in for one of their injured Indian fast bowlers, he was not officially part of the team. Now, just under a week into IPL 2025, the 33-year-old is proudly wearing the Purple Cap.

The past four months have been quite eventful for the Mumbaikar, who, to his surprise and dismay, went unsold during the mega auction in Jeddah last November. At that time, he had accumulated 94 wickets in 95 matches and was recognized as a valuable all-rounder capable of contributing significant runs lower in the batting order. Most notably, despite conceding runs, he had a remarkable ability to take wickets, which are highly coveted in the T20 format.

Despite his credentials, Thakur did not attract any bids during the lengthy negotiations among the ten franchises in Saudi Arabia. This rejection must have been a significant disappointment, but the versatile player was determined not to remain idle.

Consequently, he signed with the English county team Essex for the upcoming season, viewing it as a continuation of his red-ball experience with Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. However, during the knockout phase of the Ranji last month, he received a call from Zaheer Khan, the mentor of LSG, asking him to be ready to join the franchise as an injury replacement.

It was not until March 23 that Thakur officially joined IPL 2025, brought in to substitute for the injured Mohsin Khan at his base price of Rs. 2 crore. In a predominantly inexperienced Indian bowling lineup, Thakur was expected to provide mentorship and leadership while also aiming to take some wickets. Within the first week of the tournament, he has already claimed the Purple Cap, having taken six wickets in two matches, including a career-best four for 34 against one of the most formidable batting lineups in the competition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad undoubtedly showcase the most formidable batting strength in the league. Recently, they overwhelmed Rajasthan Royals, scoring 286 runs—just one run shy of their own record for the highest team total in IPL history. Their left-handed trio at the top, consisting of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Ishan Kishan, are exceptional hitters, displaying an aggressive approach without hesitation. In the middle order, Heinrich Klaasen stands out as a fierce attacker.

Thakur must have witnessed the devastation inflicted by SRH on bowlers Maheesh Theekshana and Jofra Archer, who recorded the most expensive figures in IPL history with none for 76. However, if this affected him, it was not evident. Eager to dismiss them before they could dominate him, Thakur adopted an aggressive bowling strategy. He began with the new ball, seeking swing, then adjusted his length to deliver a well-placed bouncer that Abhishek could only send to the deep backward square-leg fielder.

We previously noted his remarkable ability to take wickets. One can imagine Kishan nodding in agreement, having been dismissed down the leg side on his very first ball to a seemingly harmless delivery. Such is the influence of Lord Shardul.

Another catchy title, reminiscent of the Chennai Super Kings' penchant for such nicknames—think Sir Jadeja—has become synonymous with Thakur, who enjoys the spotlight. Thursday night was a showcase of his talent, as he claimed two wickets in his second over and added two more throughout the match. The final wicket marked his 100th in IPL, temporarily earning him the Purple Cap. The Player of the Match accolade was merely a formality, a delightful affirmation of Thakur's standout performance at a venue that has often posed challenges for bowlers.

Despite his success in taking wickets and scoring runs for his state in the Ranji Trophy, Thakur's prospects as a Test cricketer may be dwindling—he has not participated in a red-ball match for India since December 2023. Nevertheless, he exemplifies the adage of never giving up, leaving the door open for a potential return.

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