The former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer is in firing form in domestic cricket and is eyeing a return to Test cricket when India travel to England in the upcoming summer.

Defending champions Mumbai are fighting hard in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, and the 33-year-old Shardul Thakur is a key reason for Mumbai’s stable running in the ongoing domestic first-class cricket.

Shardul Thakur is in outstanding form in Ranji Trophy 2024-25

In the ongoing Quarter-final of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, while Mumbai scored 315 runs in the first innings against Haryana, Haryana were bowled out for 301 runs, as Mumbai earned a crucial lead of 14 runs, thanks to Shardul Thakur’s six-fer. On the third day morning, Haryana lost the last five wickets only for 38 runs, and Thakur picked up all those five wickets. The right-arm pacer ended the innings with the bowling figures 18.5-3-58-6.

Shardul Thakur, who has played 11 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is for India, last served for the national team during the 2023 Boxing Day Test against South Africa at Centurion.

Although Thakur was unsold in the latest IPL mega auctions, the right-arm pacer is the second leading wicket-taker for Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy with 30 wickets in eight matches. But most importantly, as a right-handed batter, he has scored 396 runs in nine innings with an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 101.79, including one century and three half-centuries. While Mumbai's batting line-up has struggled mostly this Ranji season, Thakur played a crucial role with the bat in the lower order along with Tanush Kotian.

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It's always on my mind: Shardul Thakur on his international cricket return goal

Thakur is playing a strong all-rounder role for Mumbai in this Ranji season, and he feels that it will help him to return to the Indian Test team, who will travel to England this upcoming June for a five-match Test series. All-rounder Thakur can be a valuable asset in the Indian team for the England tour.

Thakur said, "Yes, absolutely. I believe I'm in contention. The next step is to make my place in the team and earn selection. That's always the goal. Right now, I'm playing at the Ranji Trophy level. International cricket is the highest level we all strive for. It's always on my mind; it's the motivation to play for the country that drives me forward. That passion, that fire, never fades."

Shardul Thakur is ready for County cricket

As Thakur is currently absent from the upcoming IPL season, he is ready for the upcoming English county cricket season if he gets any offer. 

Thakur added, "If I get an offer, I'll definitely play. It would be a great new experience. Right now, there are no concrete plans, but county cricket has 6-7 matches around that time. If selected, it will help me adjust to English conditions before the (England) tour.”

In his international cricket career, Thakur has recorded 31 Test wickets, 65 ODI wickets, and 33 T20I wickets. The right-handed batter has also recorded four Test half-centuries and one ODI half-century along with maintaining the T20I strike rate of 181.57.