While Lucknow Super Giants claimed a dominant win against the dangerous hosts SunRisers Hyderabad in the seventh match of the IPL 2025, LSG pacer Shardul Thakur had the key role, as the right-arm pacer produced his best bowling figures in his IPL career. 

From being unsold to becoming an important pacer in the injury-loaded LSG pace bowling line-up, Shardul Thakur is now playing a very important role for his new IPL team, LSG. After performing strongly in their IPL 2025 opener against Delhi Capitals, Shardul again produced a powerful bowling performance in their second game against the dangerous hosts SRH.

While SRH scored 286/6 at home in their first IPL 2025 match (vs Rajasthan Royals), which was the second-highest IPL total, LSG restricted SRH to 190/9 in 20 overs. LSG pacer Shardul had the bowling figures of 4-0-34-4. In his second over of his first spell of the match, Shardul took two consecutive wickets of SRH opener Abhishek Sharma (6) and last match centurion Ishan Kishan (0). After Shardul provided a strong start, the other LSG bowlers brought strong support, as the home batters were never out of early pressure. Later, in the slog overs, Shardul dismissed Abhinav Manohar (2) and Mohammed Shami (1) cheaply to record the second fifer in his IPL career. 

See Also: IPL 2025: Shardul Thakur records his best bowling figures in IPL career

Why not bowlers go hard at them? Shardul Thakur

As LSG achieved success in the match by earning two points, Shardul won the Player of the Match award for his outstanding bowling performance, as the right-arm pacer now holds the Purple Cap. During the presentation ceremony, he was asked, "Shardul, when you are specially planning and bowling against a team like this, SRH, with so many destructive batters, what's the game plan?"

Shardul replied, "I think they are coming hard at bowlers, and why not bowlers go hard at them? So, the talk was around what the plan should be, and ok we collectively said, 'Let's go hard at them, let's take our chances.' If we get early wickets, then we are in the game because we have been scoring heavily on this ground on flat pitches, and probably we had to take our chances."

Here's the video pic.twitter.com/gaXOjleXj0

— Radha (@Rkc1511165) March 27, 2025

LSG won by five wickets with 23 balls remaining

LSG comfortably chased the 191-run target in 16.1 overs after losing five wickets, where Nicholas Pooran (70 off 26 balls; six fours and six sixes) and the opener Mitchell Marsh (52 off 31 balls; seven fours and two sixes) had powerful batting performances. 

Indian pacer Shardul Thakur, who was unsold in the mega auctions for the IPL 2025, is firing with the ball as a replacement-joinee for the Lucknow Super Giants in the early IPL 2025. His bowling played a huge role for LSG, restricting the dangerous batting line-up of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) to 190/9 (20 overs) in the seventh match of the IPL 2025. 

Shardul Thakur is currently in dream form with the ball and bat. While LSG faced Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 opener, Thakur provided a good start for the LSG with two wickets in the first over while DC were chasing a 200+ target. Thakur delivered two overs in that game, and LSG suffered a shocking one-wicket defeat in that match. 

Shardul Thakur took the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan on back-to-back deliveries

In the seventh match of the IPL 2025, Shardul Thakur provided a strong start for LSG as the first batting team, the hosts SRH, lost two wickets in the powerplay. After conceding six runs in the first over of the innings, Thakur started his second over with back-to-back wickets in two successive deliveries. He dismissed Abhishek Sharma (6) and last match centurion Ishan Kishan (0) and delivered a good hat-trick ball. 

Thakur's next two overs in the SRH innings were the 17th and 19th overs, where the right-arm pacer took the wickets of Abhinav Manohar (2) and Mohammed Shami (1). Thakur completed with the bowling figures of 4-0-34-4. 

See Also: IPL 2025: Who is Aniket Verma? SRH’s New Sensation

Check the key stats of Shardul Thakur in the 7th match of the IPL 2025

• Thakur completed his 100 IPL wickets in 97 matches. He recorded the 16th fastest 100 IPL wickets. 
• Thakur recorded his second IPL four-fer. 
• Thakur ended with the bowling figures of 4-0-34-4 were his best IPL bowling figures. His previous best was 4-0-36-4 for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings in 2022. 
• Thakur recorded the fifth-best bowling figures by an LSG bowler. 

The SunRisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants (SRH vs LSG) match is ready for the seventh game of the IPL 2025, while Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Hyderabad) will host it on Thursday evening (March 27). Here, we are going through the Dream11 top captains and vice-captains for the fixture. 

IPL 2025, Match 7: SRH vs LSG Probable XIs

SunRisers Hyderabad Predicted Playing 11: Travis Head/Adam Zampa (Impact Sub), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Simarjeet Singh, Pat Cummins (Captain), Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel

IPL 2025, Match 7: SRH vs LSG Dream11 Top Captains And Vice-captains

Top 3 Captain's choices

Travis Head: While SRH have the most dangerous batting line-up, Aussie cricketer Travis Head plays the crucial starter role for his team, which exactly matches with his batting character. While the IPL 2024 runners-up SRH started the IPL 2025 with the second-highest IPL total, Head set up the status with his firing 67 off 31 balls with nine fours and three sixes. 

Mitchell Marsh: Despite playing the IPL 2025 only as a batter due to his recovery process from his injury, Australian cricketer Mitchell Marsh highly impressed with the bat during LSG's first game in the IPL 2025, where the opener recorded his joint fastest T20 50 runs in 21 balls and scored 72 off 36 balls with six fours and six sixes to provide a solid start for his team. 

Nicholas Pooran: Caribbean cricketer Nicholas Pooran is one of the busiest T20 cricketers at present, as he holds the most T20 runs record since 2024 with a massive 190+ sixes, as he is one of the most dangerous T20 batters at present. In their season opener, while Pooran was dropped early, he punished the Delhi Capitals with his 75 off 30 balls with six fours and seven sixes. 

See Also: Ishan Kishan’s Top 5 Dream Opening Partners in IPL, Including Legends and Young Talents

Top 3 Vice-captain's choices

Ishan Kishan: What a stunning comeback for Ishan Kishan as he slammed the first century in the IPL 2025 by scoring 106 not out off 47 balls with 11 fours and six sixes to guide SRH to the second-highest total in IPL history. Now, the left-handed batter has to prove his improvement by performing consistently. 

Shardul Thakur: After remaining unsold in the mega auctions, Shardul Thakur is outstanding. After his incredible domestic cricket season as an all-rounder, Thakur has joined LSG as a replacement and picked up two wickets in his first over of the IPL 2025. Despite bowling well in his two overs, Thakur was not allowed to complete his quota, and LSG suffered a surprise one-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals. So, the importance of Thakur for LSG was very clear in their season opener. 

Heinrich Klaasen: South African cricketer Heinrich Klaasen is now one of the most dangerous middle-order batters, who is popular for his incredible consistency with the bat, along with powerful hits. In their first game of the IPL 2025, while SRH recorded the second-highest IPL total, Klaasen had an effective cameo of 34 off 14 balls with five fours and one six. 

Avesh Khan Declared Fit, Likely to Play Against SRH

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) finally have some good news after their disappointing loss to Delhi Capitals in their IPL 2025 opener. Fast bowler Avesh Khan has been cleared to play by the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, as per reports from ESPNcricinfo.

Avesh had been struggling with pain in his right knee since playing against Kerala in the Ranji Trophy. He spent nearly two months recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and was officially cleared on March 24. Earlier, there were concerns that he might miss three matches, but now he is expected to be available for LSG’s next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Justin Langer Gives Updates on Mayank and Akash Deep

LSG head coach Justin Langer also shared injury updates on Mayank and Akash Deep. Mayank, who was recovering well from a back injury, had an unfortunate mishap he hit his toe on a bed, which led to an infection. This has delayed his return by a week or two, but Langer is hopeful he will play later in the season.

 "Mayank was doing well, and then he accidentally kicked his toe on the bed. He got an infection, which set him back a little, but he's on the right track now. We've been getting videos of him bowling, and I saw one yesterday. Hopefully, he’ll be ready for the later stages of the tournament," Langer said.

 On the other hand, Akash Deep is almost fully fit. "Akash is doing well he's bowling at about 90% now and has completed his fitness test. He’s checking all the right boxes," Langer added.

ALSO READ: Twitter reactions after PBKS win of IPL 2025

Shardul Thakur Impresses on LSG Debut

With Mohsin Khan unavailable, Shardul Thakur stepped up in LSG’s last match. He made an immediate impact with the new ball, dismissing Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel. However, captain Rishabh Pant didn’t bring him back later in the innings, limiting his impact. LSG will be hoping for a stronger performance in their upcoming game, especially with Avesh Khan likely to return.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have contracted Shardul Thakur as a replacement for Mohsin Khan, who, due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear received at the Vijay Hazare Trophy in December 2024, is now unable to participate in IPL 2025. The absence of the left-arm fast bowler will hurt LSG, but Thakur coming into the squad does add some strength to the balance.

Thakur’s Experience and Impact

Having been absent from IPL 2025 auctions, Shardul Thakur now has 95 IPL matches to his name. Despite his surprising absence, he will need to impress after picking up crucial wickets amongst his other feats and valuably contributing with the bat. And because of his presence, Simply Thakur aids LSG, in maintaining bowling depth while also boosting firepower in the lower order.

📢 IPL Player Signing Alert

Shardul Thakur set to replace injured Mohsin Khan for LSG in the ongoing IPL season (ESPNcricinfo)#IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/qAiwK7eSUZ

— T20 Franchise Rosters (Men) (@t20tracker) March 22, 2025

ALSO READ:-CSK vs MI: WEATHER & PITCH REPORT

 
LSG's Campaign and Expectation

Thakur’s all-around abilities would be crucial in LSG's success. With the new captain, LSG plans on deploying the powerful spell-caster from the East on March 24 against Delhi Capitals.

ALSO READ:-SRH vs RR: Weather and Pitch report

Shardul Thakur Likely to Replace Injured Mohsin Khan in LSG for IPL 2025
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will likely pick up Shardul Thakur to replace injured pacer Mohsin Khan on the eve of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Why is Mohsin Khan Being Replaced?
Mohsin Khan has been dealing with injuries for a long period. He initially experienced an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury and then calf problems while recovering. These injuries have hindered him from playing in IPL 2025, compelling LSG to seek an alternative fast bowler.

Shardul Thakur's Comeback Opportunity
Veteran Indian pacer and all-rounder Shardul Thakur did not find any buyer during the IPL 2025 auction. LSG, however, has now added him to the team in place of Mohsin. Thakur has already joined the team and is likely to leave for Visakhapatnam to play the opening game of their campaign against Delhi Capitals.

🚨 THAKUR TO LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS 🚨

- Shardul Thakur is likely to replace Mohsin Khan in LSG squad for IPL 2025. [Sahil Malhotra from TOI] pic.twitter.com/jfWYV7KUBW

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 21, 2025

ALSO READ:NZ VS PAK 3rd T20I Match Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch on the tv and online

LSG Injury Problems
LSG has been struggling with a series of injuries in their bowling unit. Apart from Mohsin, other decent pacers like Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, and Mayank Yadav are recovering at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. It has led the team to bring in an experienced bowler like Thakur to boost their team.What Does Thakur Bring to LSG?
Shardul Thakur is a specialist at taking vital wickets and coming in lower down to score runs. His know-how of performing in high-intensity games makes him an automatic choice for the LSG side, particularly when the side suffers from injury crisis.

While the IPL 2025 is less than a week away to start, Shardul Thakur has stunned everyone with his possible return to the tournament, which is currently working silently.

Shardul Thakur is a popular name in IPL 

The 33-year-old Indian pacer Shardul Thakur is one of the popular faces in the Indian Premier League. Previously, serving for five different teams and one of the most popular faces for Chennai Super Kings, Thakur recorded 94 wickets in 95 IPL matches. Despite his strong experience, Thakur was unsold in the mega auctions for the IPL 2025. The seventh leading wicket-taker for CSK (60 wickets in 57 games) struggled in the last two seasons by picking up 12 wickets in last 18 IPL innings, including five wickets in nine games of the IPL 2024.   

See Also: Rohit Sharma set to return Mumbai Indians captaincy role

Shardul Thakur was in great all-round form in recent domestic cricket, including among top 5 leading wicket-takers in the T20 tournament SMAT

Althogh Thakur remained unsold in the mega auctions, he was in the good news in domestic season. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, Thakur finished as the joint third leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets in nine games. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, the right-arm pacer collected 10 wickets in seven fixtures, and he scored 132 runs in four innings as a right-handed lower-order batter, including the innings of 43 and 73 not out. Most importantly, Thakur had a 148.31 strike rate in the latest Vijay Hazare Trophy season where he hit seven fours and 10 sixes. 

Thakur played important all-rounder role for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, where the defending champions reached the Semi-final. In that domestic red-ball competition, Thakur not only took 35 wickets in nine matches, including one six-fer, he also scored 505 runs in 12 innings with an average of 42.08, including one century and four half-centuries. He was the second most wicket-taker and second leading run-scorer for his team in the latest Ranji Trophy season. 

LSG have serious injury news in the pace bowling 

Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants currently have some injury news in their pace bowling line-ups. They have the injured pacers Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Avesh Khan. Also, the Australian pace-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has recently confirmed that he will be available for the IPL 2025 as a batter. Due to his back injury, Marsh is unlikely to bowl in the IPL 2025. 

On the other hand, in a recent image, Shardul Thakur has been seen to bowl wearing Lucknow Super Giants' training kit. Although there is no official news yet, it is not a surprising to see in-form experienced pace-bowling all-rounder Thakur in the LSG team, where some top Indian pace-bowling names are injured. 

India's star pacer Shardul Thakur is representing Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. The top player has not been provided with a spot in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy. Shardul is, however, set to represent the Essex team in the County Championship soon. Shardul's return can be useful for him to regain a spot in the Indian team.

🚨 SHARDUL THAKUR TO COUNTY CRICKET 🚨

- Essex is set to sign Shardul Thakur for this county season. [Nisarg Naik]

Huge boost for him ahead of the England Test series. pic.twitter.com/czMp7r7On4

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2025

Shardul Thakur Representation to India :
Shardul Thakur was the last of them when he represented India in Tests and ODIs in 2023. But he didn't perform well. He wasn't included in the Indian squad for being out of form. But Shardul also played for India in ICC tournaments during 2023. Shardul was part of the Indian team in World Test Championship 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023. It is tough now to think of his return to the Indian team. He is playing for Mumbai in domestic cricket now. Shardul is also playing in the current semi-final match being conducted against Vidarbha on behalf of Mumbai.

ALSO SEE :  Harbhajan Singh sighs huge warning To Be Aware Of This Pakistani Player Ahead Before Their Mega Clash

Performance in Ranji Trophy :
Shardul has played his best ever in the Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai. Speaking about the last 3 matches, he has stunned everyone with bat and ball. He has picked 19 wickets in the last 3 matches, besides this, while batting in the last 3 matches, he has made 2 half-centuries besides 1 century. But by featuring in the County Championship, he will be in a position to market himself for a return to the Indian Test team since the Indian team will travel to England to play a 5-match Test series following IPL 2025. In the event that Shardul performs exceptional cricket in the County Championship overseas, then he could get noticed by the Indian selectors.

Career of Shardul Thakur:

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. 

Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Shardul Thakur's Heroic Game Play Rescue Mumbai Against J&K

Shardul Thakur from Mumbai just mastered it with an excellent century against Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) during the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 game at the BKC Ground in Mumbai. The individual scored a smashing 100 from 105 balls, including 15 boundaries, which saved Mumbai when they were in a strangely terrible position. Before that, Mumbai's openers, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, only made 28 and 26, which was not very good, against the J&K bowlers, who had them cornered at 120 all in the first innings.

But then, Shardul wasn't alone, he had Tanush Kotian with him who scored a tough 92-ball half-century. Kotian hit six boundaries, which was really helpful. Together, they brought Mumbai back from a difficult situation. The J&K team was ahead at first after they got Mumbai out for just 120 and then scored 206 themselves, giving them an 86-run lead.

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LORD THAKUR.

- Shardul is saving Mumbai at BKC 👌 pic.twitter.com/FXkbkJD2QV

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 24, 2025

ALSO READ: Major Change in England's Playing XI for 2nd T20 Against India at Chepauk

But Shardul and Kotian's partnership might just change everything. Now, with that important second innings from Shardul, his second ton in his First-Class cricket Carrer, and Kotian staying strong, they've got hope. Mumbai's setup to maybe make things better and win this tight match. Let us wait and see how Mumbai can use this and to stay focused.