Tamil Nadu’s pride, ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, responded to Shardul Thakur’s remarkable innings for Mumbai on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC on Sunday, March 3.
Thakur’s impressive batting display played a pivotal role in Mumbai securing a first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu. He notably forged a crucial 105-run partnership with Hardik Tamore for the eighth wicket.
Ashwin wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“Dey lord beefy! Enough da”
As of the current moment, Mumbai stands at 248/8 after 75 overs during the tea break. They hold a lead of 102 runs, with Shardul Thakur (78 off 75) and Tanush Kotian (18 off 24) occupying the crease. R Sai Kishore showcased his prowess as the standout performer among the Tamil Nadu bowlers, claiming a remarkable six-wicket haul.
In their first innings, batting first, Tamil Nadu was dismissed for 146 runs. Vijay Shankar and Washington Sundar were the leading scorers, contributing 44 (off 109 balls) and 43 (off 138 balls), respectively. Mumbai’s Tushar Deshpande shone with the ball, registering figures of 3/24, while Shardul Thakur, Musheer Khan, and Tanush Kotian each secured two wickets.
Shardul Thakur is set to don the yellow jersey once again as he joins the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. The MS Dhoni-led franchise secured his services at the IPL 2024 auction, splurging ₹4 crore for the talented all-rounder.
This marks Thakur’s second stint with the Chennai-based franchise, having previously represented them from 2018 to 2021, during which they clinched two IPL trophies. His contributions to CSK include 55 wickets in 48 matches, showcasing his bowling prowess with an economy rate of 8.97.
In the past two seasons, Thakur has continued to impress, scalping 22 wickets in 25 games. With a total of 86 IPL appearances under his belt, he has amassed 89 wickets at an economy rate of 9.16.
Having previously plied his trade for various IPL teams such as Punjab Kings, the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, and the Kolkata Knight Riders, Thakur brings a wealth of experience to the CSK squad.
Fans can expect to see him in action when CSK kick off their campaign against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the opening clash scheduled for March 22.