Experienced India all-rounder Shardul Thakur was rushed to a local hospital due to a high fever soon after the second day’s play of the Irani Cup match between Mumbai and the Rest of India in Lucknow. He battled with 102 degrees fever to contribute an all-important 36 runs in a 73-run ninth-wicket stand alongside Sarfaraz Khan during his time at the crease, according to The Indian Express.

Shardul Thakur batted through illness

On Day 1 also, Shardul Thakur had already shown signs of illness, as he was suffering from a mild fever. However, his condition became worse after spending close to two hours batting on Day 2 as well. Moreover, he had to take breaks twice during the innings, during which the team doctor checked his condition as well.

Despite his poor health condition, Thakur remained committed to the team. After his important knock, the Mumbai team management decided to take him to a nearby hospital in Lucknow, where he would be kept under observation for the night as well. The medical team is closely monitoring his condition, with doctors expected to decide on his fitness for Day 3 after checking his health progress.

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Shardul Thakur played a key knock

A source told the newspaper that Thakur was feeling weak throughout the day but he still went to bat despite his high fever. While medical tests for malaria and dengue were carried out, the team is awaiting results before taking a call regarding his further participation in the match as well. Thakur’s knock last 59 deliveries, where he hit a six and four boundaries as well.

However, he played cautiously and didn't play any rash shots, supporting Sarfaraz Khan well, who remained unbeaten on 221 at the end of Day 2 as well.

As the current season of first-class cricket nears its conclusion, some players are expressing concerns over what they perceive as rushed scheduling by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), asserting that it doesn’t align with the best interests of player well-being and injury prevention.

With only three games remaining in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season – two underway and one yet to be played – players are voicing their belief that a mere three-day gap between matches is insufficient. This season, the BCCI packed 137 first-class matches into a tight 70-day window, running from January 5 to March

Players’ Concerns Over Compact Scheduling

R Sai Kishore, the captain of Tamil Nadu, disclosed that several players share this sentiment, particularly noting the disproportionate strain placed on fast bowlers due to the compact scheduling. Kishore himself, being a spinner, adapts his training regimen accordingly but acknowledges the challenges faced by fast bowlers.

Shardul Thakur, the Mumbai and India all-rounder, expressed more explicit concerns, urging the BCCI to reconsider the scheduling of Ranji matches. Reflecting on his experience of past seasons, Thakur highlighted the historically longer breaks between matches and emphasized the potential for increased player injuries if the current trend persists.

Thakur cautioned against the physical toll of playing ten consecutive matches with minimal rest, especially considering the elimination of breaks that previously existed in the tournament’s format. With the schedule becoming increasingly demanding, Thakur predicts a surge in injuries across the country if the situation remains unchanged.

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Balancing Cricketing Calendar with Player Welfare

Behind the scenes, the BCCI faces its own set of challenges in crafting the cricket calendar. With a staggering 1846 matches scheduled for the season, including women’s and age-group games, the BCCI was compelled to commence the season earlier than usual, starting in June rather than the typical September-October timeframe.

For senior players, the season encompasses seven tournaments, each with its own duration, ranging from the Duleep Trophy to the Ranji Trophy Elite and Plate divisions. The logistics of accommodating all these fixtures while also considering player welfare pose a significant challenge for the BCCI.

In light of players’ concerns and the logistical complexities faced by the BCCI, finding a balance between the demands of the cricketing calendar and player well-being emerges as a pressing issue.

As the season draws to a close, the debate surrounding scheduling adjustments to accommodate player needs is likely to intensify, prompting stakeholders to explore potential solutions that prioritize both the integrity of the game and the health of its participants.

Shardul Thakur’s Spectacular Century Propels Mumbai to Dominance in Ranji Trophy Semifinal Clash with Tamil Nadu.In the ongoing Ranji Trophy semifinal against Tamil Nadu at the BKC Ground in Bandra on Sunday, March 3, 2024, Shardul Thakur showcased his batting prowess by smashing 109 runs off 105 balls, adorned with 4 sixes and 13 fours. His remarkable innings not only marked his maiden First-Class century but also positioned Mumbai favorably in the contest.

Shardul Thakur’s Dual Mastery: Stellar Batting and Bowling Performance

Earlier, Shardul had exhibited his bowling prowess, claiming figures of 2/48 as Tamil Nadu was dismissed for 146 runs in their first innings after Sai Kishore, the captain, elected to bat first. Vijay Shankar (44) and Washington Sundar (43) were the top contributors for Tamil Nadu.

In reply, despite Musheer Khan’s resilient 55, Mumbai faced a challenging situation, especially with Sai Kishore shining with the ball, clinching 6 wickets, including the prized scalp of Ajinkya Rahane for 19 runs. Additionally, the return of Shreyas Iyer to the cricketing arena was anticipated, yet he could only muster 3 runs before departing.

Shardul Thakur’s Heroic Century Rescues Mumbai from the Brink

Hardik Tamore’s Steady Contribution Precedes Shardul Thakur’s Explosive Maiden FC Century.Hardik Tamore provided stability to the innings with a composed 35-run innings, laying a foundation for Mumbai. However, it was Shardul Thakur who emerged as the ultimate savior, unleashing a merciless assault on the Tamil Nadu bowlers with his maiden First-Class century when Mumbai needed it the most. Thakur’s blistering knock of 109 runs off 105 balls, embellished with 13 fours and 4 sixes, turned the tide in Mumbai’s favor. His partnership of 79 runs with Tanush Kotian for the 9th wicket further solidified Mumbai’s position.

Thakur’s jubilation knew no bounds as he launched Ajith Ram for a towering six down the ground, marking his century in grand style. His heroic performance earned him accolades from the Mumbai dressing room, as he successfully steered the team out of trouble.

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Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be the second-lowest bidder in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. They only have INR 14.50 crores to spend and would have to make wise decisions. They released nine players before the mini-auction and acquired Avesh Khan from the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after trading their left-hand opener Devdutt Padikkal.

In the previous two seasons, RR’s plan was apparent. They intend to assemble a powerful XI and spend more money on them. Based on that, they now focus on enhancing their top and middle order to achieve the team’s fruitful results. Here are the three probable buys by the Rajasthan Royals in the 2024 IPL Mini Auction.

• Daryll Mitchell

Though Daryl Mitchell had associations with the franchise in the 2022 edition and wasn’t pleasing with just a mere two-match appearance, he was released from the team. But, with an impeccable cricketing performance across all formats of the game, with the recently concluded CWC 2023 in India being the highlight, Rajasthan Royals can repurchase him, as he is familiar with the Indian conditions and help strengthen the middle order and provide some medium pace to the team. 

• Harry Brook

When Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) broke the bank for Harry Brook in the previous auctions, they anticipated big things from him. However, with a triple-digit figure, he failed miserably with the willow. As a result, the English emerging star was released by the Orange Army before the IPL 2024 auction.

However, the Rajasthan Royals might pursue him and slot him at No.4 or 5, with Shimron Hetmyer finishing the job. RR had Joe Root, but he opted out, leaving the inaugural winners with three abroad positions to fill. Brook will fit in perfectly since he is a natural middle-order hitter, something RR urgently needs.

• Shardul Thakur

The Rajasthan Royals have omitted Jason Holder, which makes a vacant spot available for a stable all-rounder. However, RR would still want a speed all-rounder, and any domestic player would be a plus. Shardul Thakur is an excellent choice for this post. Thakur is a speed all-rounder who, while less valuable in T20s, is still valid. Shardul will perform well because the tracks in Jaipur were sluggish last time. Not to mention his ability to take wickets and bat in the lower order.

Gujarat Titans can be hailed as one of the few teams with an impeccable start since its inception in the tournament. By cracking the code of entering the finals two consecutive times, it is a no-brainer that the team has a robust lineup ticking all the boxes.

But with their trade deal of letting go of their captain, Hardik Pandya, to the Mumbai Indians, it is evident that the team should now focus on obtaining emerging and talented players for their arsenal under the helm of an emerging captain, Shubman Gill.

With the unit comprising the highest money purse (Rs. 38.15 Crore), here is a list of probable three picks by Gujarat Titans in the coming IPL auctions. 

•  Travis Head

With the team retaining two of their squad’s prominent and significant all-rounders, Rahul Tewatia and Vijay Shankar, their decision to try to purchase Travis Head.

In the recently concluded stint of CWC 2023, Travis Head proved to be an impactful player for the winning Aussies team. He can also be handy with the ball, creating some spin and scalp crucial wickets. 

• Shardul Thakur

As the team’s former captain and vital all-rounder, Hardik Pandya parted ways with the Gujarat Titans, the management can plan for acquiring Shardul Thakur as a potential substitute for the position and responsibilities that Hardik Pandya had.

Being one of the most expensive releases by the player’s former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, several franchises would try to have the Indian all-rounder in their playing XI, thanks to his medium pace and swashbuckling-hitting calibre. 

• Gerald Coetzee

Gerald Coetzee made an impression on the cricketing world with his outstanding performance for South Africa in the ODI World Cup 2023. His bowling talent and ability to perform under pressure drew the attention of cricket fans worldwide.

His ability to take essential wickets in crucial moments makes him an invaluable asset to any T20 team, something the savvy GT thought tank recognises. The management understands the need for a formidable speed attack, and Coetzee’s recent exploits make him a perfect choice to don their jersey.

In a significant development, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have opted to release the Indian National Cricket Team bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. The IPL 2024 auction, categorized as a mini-auction, is slated for December 19 in Dubai, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) setting November 26 as the deadline for franchises to disclose their lists of retained and released players.

Each team will have a purse of INR 100 crore for the upcoming season, marking a INR 5 crore increase from the previous season’s purse of INR 95 crore.Shardul Thakur was recently part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, featuring in three matches against Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Across these games, he delivered bowling performances of 1/31, 0/12, and 1/59.

However, despite being dropped from the playing XI, Thakur’s omission was not attributed to his performance. Instead, it was a strategic decision influenced by a change in team composition following all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s injury. Thakur remained part of the team’s plans, and his exclusion was a tactical adjustment.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Release Shardul Thakur

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have opted to release bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur ahead of the mini-auction, as reported by the Indian Express. Thakur, acquired through a trade with Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 10.75 crore, faced underwhelming performances both with bat and ball, leading to the franchise’s decision to part ways with the player. Previously associated with MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from 2018 to 2021, Thakur played for Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the subsequent two seasons.

See Also:IPL 2024 Gujarat Titans: Retained & Released Players, Remaining Purse, and Complete Team Overview

In the IPL 2023, Shardul Thakur contributed 113 runs in 11 matches with an average of 14.13 and a strike rate of 161.43. With the ball, he secured 7 wickets at an average of 31.43, an economy of 10.48, and a strike rate of 18.00.

Thakur’s overall IPL statistics include 86 matches, with 286 runs scored at an average of 11.92 and a strike rate of 140.20. As a bowler, he has claimed 89 wickets at an average of 28.76, an economy of 9.16, and a strike rate of 18.83. The decision to release Thakur marks a strategic move by KKR in preparation for the upcoming IPL auction.

Birmingham 2019 still exists strongly in the minds of the Indian Cricket Team. For those who don’t remember, it was in that very game where India’s lack of batting depth created issues. For that game, India went with their four best bowlers Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yuzvendra Chahal. The bowlers had a rare off day conceding 337.

In return, India was in the chase for a good part, barely hanging on until they were five down. At five down, the target was getting out of reach but could have been made with a couple of good overs which were possible with MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav out there. The next 30 minutes though turned out to be one of the most frustrating periods for the Indian Team as the pair were happy to knock singles and play for net-run-rate.

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They did not have too many options with four number elevens batting from number 8 to number 11. Following the game, India separated Kul-Cha, got Ravindra Jadeja in at number eight and the batting depth improved with Jadeja proving that number eight is crucial as he almost won India a Semi-Final.

Since that World Cup though, the bowling has improved with India now having the option of fielding six bowlers capable of bowling their full quota. With Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya, they have two who can do big jobs with both bat and ball. The pair moved up a batting spot since the last World Cup leaving number eight vacant.

India though now has a challenge with that number eight spot. They have tried Shardul Thakur, who has made a career out of picking wickets out of nowhere with the most innocuous of deliveries. They also have the option of playing a third spinner which could well be Ravichandran Ashwin. The issue though is playing Shardul Thakur may prevent India from playing their four best bowlers.

In an ideal situation, India’s best four bowlers at the moment are Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Mohammad Shami, and Kuldeep Yadav with Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja as the all-rounders. Playing the same bowling attack though could lead to another Birmingham-like scenario with the tail starting at number eight.

Mohammad Shami got his chance in Mohali, which was an ODI for those who believe that number eight to eleven should have the best bowlers in the country. He took five wickets and followed it with an economical spell in the second game as well as showing incredible skill with his swing and seam movement.

Shardul on the other hand was wicket-less and the most expensive bowler, targetted by the Australians in both games. With the bat he was not required as the top seven was more than enough. That though can not be the situation all the time as we have seen. Two games though are a small sample space.

In the recent past, no other Indian bowler barring Mohammad Siraj has played as many ODIs as Shardul Thakur. The Indian camp has given him a role and he has done the job in the past. Finding a way to move a semi-new ball and picking up middle-order wickets, breaking partnerships have been his specialty, which could be very handy at the World Cup.

Skillwise though, he remains far from Shami which leads to the debate on who to play. Do India go with Shami sacrificing batting depth for an off-day or got with Shardul who could give them another bowling option while also lengthening the batting line-up.

Shardul Thakur though has come out as an imperfect solution to a concern in the recent past but has proved his worth with performances when it matters the most. Until the current ODI series, Shardul looked like a direct pick. However, with Shami’s performance and the resurgence of Ravichandran Ashwin, India has a few questions to answer and they could well lean towards playing a third spinner in Ashwin, giving them one of the best bowling options possible while also getting some nice depth with the bat.

When Andre Russell left for a first ball duck, KKR, with a line-up seen as the worst in the league was staring down the barrel. RCB, with a good bowling attack, and some of the best batters in the World looked all the more intimidating. Shardul Thakur though walked out with the stage set for him. From the time of his debut, he has proven to be a handy batter, who has saved India in Red ball cricket on a few occasions. Known for his saving 50s at Gabba and Oval, the situation was perfect for him at Kolkata.

While his consistency has not been the best, Thakur proved that he enjoys the big stage and took the bowlers on, at a time where the bowling side was on top. He loves the contest, and while fans had a really fun time watching him take on the bowlers with some outrageous shots, he had the look on his face indicating that he meant business.

Just as he did in Gabba and at the Oval, Shardul Thakur produced heroic performances but not finish as the star performer. His batting though, as it was then pure entertainment. The ability to hook Cummins over square leg is an indicator of his attacking ability. Here, at Kolkata, Shardul Thakur, who failed to connect a defensive shot off the first ball he faced realized that attacking was his best bet. He then went on to display incredible wrist work, batting in a manner that was effective and with a style built of a really strong base.

He kept swinging, and on many occasions, Shardul Thakur did sky the ball only to see it land between two fielders, as he obtained a golden touch for a brief period. It was his day for those 45 to 50 minutes, and the World was his as he swung the bat with a lot of fortune. From 94-5, it was Shardul Thakur, and Rinku Singh, who supported him admirably, who took Kolkata to a position where they could call the shots. It was one-sided up until that partnership, and their partnership changed the story.

Kolkata, with few big names in the side all of a sudden was rolling, and the crowd found its voice. They did cheer Kohli on, as most crowds would, but once the Knight Riders got their momentum, it was one way traffic with the crowd. His innings, and the fun he had would not be complete without a mention of Rinku Singh’s contribution. in the last year, Rinku Singh has proven to be a handy player in the Kolkata line-up, and he was happy to play second fiddle as Shardul Thakur took the bowlers on from the other end.

In the end, both of them combined to set-up an easy win as the spinners, Narine and Chakravarthy ran through the RCB top-order with ease. A freakish partnership took them to an unimaginable score from where they were and now, KKR are left believing that they can make a mark this season as they get ready to take on the high flying Gujarat Titans.

IPL 2023, 9th Match: Kolkata Knight Riders 204 for 7 (Thakur 68, Gurbaz 57, Willey 2-16) beat Royal Challengers Bangalore 123 (du Plessis 23, Varun 4-15, Suyash 3-30) by 81 runs

Eleven-and-a-half overs into Kolkata Knight Riders’ re-visitation of Eden Nurseries, it appeared they were taking a gander at a long, excruciating IPL ahead. They were 89 for 5 after the first match, which they lost. Andre Russell had got out for a brilliant duck. Shardul Thakur nearly fell victim to Karn Sharma’s hat trick, but he then pulled off one of the remarkable turnarounds in the IPL.

The second-highest score ever recorded by a No. 7 in the IPL brought KKR’s total to 204, which is the highest total for a team with five losses under 100. With short boundaries, a quick outfield, and dew already in, it was probably still a par score. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli gave Royal Challengers Bangalore a strong start, but the two mysterious spinners, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, ran through their batting to give them a reality check in an IPL match where they started as favorites.

Willey slots right in

Royal Challengers found out before the game that Reece Topley would be out of the IPL for the entire season after injuring himself in the first match. Minutes in, David Willey showed he could be the ideal substitution. He tidied up Venkatesh Iyer with crease development in, and afterward settled Mandeep Singh with a wobble-crease conveyance to kiss the off stump. He scored twice thanks to the latter. In the powerplay, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who wasted 38 shots on goal, outperformed Willey’s 3-1-9-0 total.

Gurbaz stopped short by Karn

One of Knight Riders’ acquisitions, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, continued to show promise even as wickets fell and fans questioned the team’s work at the auction. Despite losing four leg-glanced runs to a wrong leg-bye call, his aggressive play led to his first IPL fifty in 38 balls. Although he had reduced them to 79 for 3 in those ten overs, the first non-Gurbaz boundary occurred in the eleventh over. A respectable total remained.

In the 12th over, Gurbaz perfectly found a short third after middleing a reverse sweep off Karn Sharma. The Knight Riders were down to Andre Russell or die, not for the first time. Bust it had all the earmarks of being as Russell attempted to stir things up around town ball for a six, and saw it as lengthy off.

Shardul Thakur takes over

Thakur’s encounter with the hat trick ball was far from a sign of things to come. Large back lift, hoping to drive a leg break into the covers, inside-edging the wrong’un. The fact that the edge went all the way for four was the only indication of what was to come.

Two balls later, Thakur scored with a picture-perfect leg flick off Deep, helped along by the small boundary and quick outfield. He then drove Deep through additional cover. He got a free hit in the same over, which he put over wide, long-on.

What followed was typical of an innings with 68 runs off 29. He hit a lot of powerful shots and three more misses that went right through the infield and boundary riders. The strikes into the leg side were so freshly hit they figured out how to keep away from upwards of four limit riders.

Rinku Singh, at the opposite end, continued turning the strike over prior to participating in the firecrackers in the last two overs. He got 46 out of 33 after starting with 23 out of 25. When he collected Siraj’s high full toss for a six, the turnaround began.

At the time of the death, others, including Siraj specifically, were typical. It was true that Thakur did everything right that day, but Siraj, for instance, bowled the final two overs with mid-off up and was three times hit over the fielder. There was no manufactured shot in any of them. Illustrious Challengers surrendered 23 runs in additional overs.

The chase nosedives

The Royal Challengers did not panic. Before picking up the pace, Du Plessis and Kohli even gave themselves a glimpse for two overs. The fourth over, bowled by Tim Southee, went for 23.

When Narine was used in the fifth over, it looked like the game was over. Narine immediately settled into the perfect line and length after a rare match in which he played at ten an over. He had Kohli bowled through the gate after five balls. Varun du Plessis bowled the following over because the carrom ball didn’t turn and took the inside edge.

Royal Challengers experimented in unconventional ways, placing Michael Bracewell at No. No. 3 is Harshal Patel. 4 – however, the spinners were simply too strong. Almost all of the deliveries were hitting the stumps, despite the variety. Varun bowled Harshal and Glenn Maxwell, Narine had Shahbaz Ahmed gotten.

The debutant leg spinner Suyash Sharma, who bowled mostly wrong uns, some seam-up deliveries, and the occasional leg break, ended up with three late wickets after Thakur came in to take a wicket with the third ball.

Knight Riders had taken the most spin wickets in an IPL match when Varun returned and took his fourth wicket to win the game.

India will be expecting more runs from the middle order and discipline in the death overs as they look for a series sealing win against New Zealand in the second ODI on Saturday. Umran Malik could be beneficial to take wickets with his pace and bounce. Hardik Pandya, who has not been at his belligerent best of late, will be expected to give final flourish to the innings. After being down and out at 131/6. New Zealand were allowed to score another 206 runs in the chase of 350 and that should worry India.

The visitors looked like getting a remarkable come-from-behind win but the individual brilliance of Mohammed Siraj stopped them. With the bat, Shubman Gill, who scored a scintillating double century, had singlehandedly taken India to a competitive total with the others falling by the wayside. Hardik Pandya, who has not been at his belligerent best of late. Will be expected to give final flourish to the innings.

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Umran Malik can replace Shardul Thakur, sheer pace over variation?

Accommodated in the middle-order following his double-hundred performance in Bangladesh. Ishan Kishan would be itching to make the most of the opportunity after an off-day in Hyderabad. India brought Shardul Thakur into the team at the expense of the super quick Umran Malik considering his batting abilities. But the management needs to decide quickly if it wants a bowler who can bat or a specialist. Who can rattle the opposition with extra pace and get wickets in the middle overs.

In the spin department, had a game to forget while Kuldeep Yadav continued his impressive run. The team also has the option playing Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep together. But it has stuck to one wrist spinner and one finger spinner policy. Shahbaz Ahmed is another option that the men in blue can look at. Hardik Pandya, who has not been at his belligerent best of late, will be expected to give final flourish to the innings.

India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI Probable Playing XI:

IND: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan(wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammad Shami

NZ: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner