India all-rounder Shardul Thakur is facing a rough patch in his career. After going unsold in the IPL auction, he recently recorded the worst bowling figures in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In a match against Kerala, Shardul conceded 69 runs and took only one wicket, equaling the record for the most expensive spell in the T20 competition with Ramesh Rahul of Arunachal Pradesh.
The previous record was held by Hyderabad’s Pagadala Naidu in 2010. Kerala emerged victorious in the match, posting 234/5 thanks to Rohan Kunnummal’s 87-run knock, while Mumbai could only manage 191/9. Shardul, who is recovering from an injury, did not find any buyers in the IPL auction due to his declining performance in recent years.
Indian management has also moved on from Shardul, as head coach Gautam Gambhir opted for Nitish Kumar Reddy for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Despite this setback, Shardul remains optimistic about his future in the Indian cricket team, citing upcoming opportunities in the Australia tour, England’s visit to India, and the Champions Trophy.
Shardul has represented India in 11 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, taking 129 wickets across all formats. He has also scored 729 runs, with his highest score being 67 in a Test match. Despite his recent struggles, Shardul is determined to make a comeback and prove his worth in the national team.
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