Shardul Thakur: The Spearhead of Mumbai’s Cricket Attack
Role: Bowler
DOB: October 16, 1991
IPL Team (2026): Unsold
Base Price:
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 86 | 48 | 16 | 325 | 68 | 10.15 | 241 | 134.85 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 15 | 26 |
| 2023 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 113 | 68 | 12.55 | 77 | 146.75 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 3 |
| 2022 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 120 | 32* | 15.00 | 89 | 134.83 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | 6 |
| 2021 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 45 | 15 | 7.50 | 36 | 125.00 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| 2020 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 10* | 5.50 | 10 | 110.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 5* | 10.00 | 6 | 166.66 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2018 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 5* | 5.00 | 12 | 125.00 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 2017 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 6* | 5.50 | 10 | 110.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 86 | 1722 | 2599 | 88 | 4/36 | 29.53 | 9.06 | 19.56 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 174 | 308 | 7 | 2/23 | 44.00 | 10.62 | 24.8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 294 | 464 | 15 | 4/36 | 30.93 | 9.46 | 19.6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 366 | 509 | 21 | 3/28 | 24.23 | 8.33 | 17.4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 9 | 192 | 262 | 10 | 2/28 | 26.20 | 8.18 | 19.2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 180 | 291 | 8 | 2/17 | 36.37 | 9.70 | 22.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 264 | 400 | 16 | 2/18 | 25.00 | 9.09 | 16.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 240 | 346 | 11 | 3/19 | 31.45 | 8.65 | 21.8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 12 | 19 | 0 | 0/19 | – | 9.50 | – | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Shardul Thakur: The Spearhead of Mumbai’s Cricket Attack
From the dusty grounds of Palghar, a small town outside Mumbai, emerged Shardul Thakur, a cricketer whose journey is as captivating as his on-field persona. Nicknamed ‘Lord’ by fans for his uncanny ability to pick up crucial wickets at vital moments, Thakur’s path to IPL stardom was anything but conventional. He was a hefty teenager who shed significant weight, honed his skills in Mumbai’s competitive domestic circuit, and eventually became a consistent performer for the Mumbai Ranji team, famously taking 48 wickets in their 2015-16 title-winning season.
Thakur’s IPL debut came in 2015 for Kings XI Punjab, a solitary appearance that offered little hint of the impact he would later have. It was with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017 that he truly began to find his rhythm, showcasing his knack for breaking partnerships. However, his career truly blossomed under the tutelage of MS Dhoni at Chennai Super Kings. In the 2018 season, he became a critical component of CSK’s bowling attack, delivering crucial overs and contributing to their title triumph. His ability to bowl across different phases of the innings, coupled with his deceptive slower balls and late swing, made him an invaluable asset.
What sets Shardul apart is not just his bowling, but his infectious energy and surprising batting prowess. He’s a genuine all-rounder in the modern T20 sense – a bowler who can hit a long ball and change the momentum of a game with the bat. His personality shines through in his celebrations and his never-say-die attitude, making him a fan favourite. Whether it’s a timely wicket or a quickfire cameo with the bat, Thakur has a habit of making things happen, often when his team needs it most, earning him the moniker of a ‘game-changer’.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Shardul Thakur’s IPL career has seen him don the jerseys of multiple franchises, each stint adding a new chapter to his story. He began his journey with Kings XI Punjab in 2015, playing just one match before being released. His next opportunity came with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017, where he played 12 matches, picking up 11 wickets and showing glimpses of his potential. This performance caught the eye of the Chennai Super Kings.
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) era (2018-2021) was Thakur’s most successful. Acquired for INR 2.6 crore in 2018, he became a vital cog in Dhoni’s machinery, playing a significant role in CSK’s title wins in 2018 and 2021. His 21 wickets in the 2021 season were instrumental, making him CSK’s leading wicket-taker that year. His consistent performances and ability to deliver under pressure made him a fan favourite and a key death-over specialist.
In the mega-auction of 2022, Thakur commanded a massive price of INR 10.75 crore, moving to Delhi Capitals (DC). He was expected to be a primary all-rounder, and while he delivered some impactful performances with both bat and ball (15 wickets and 120 runs), his economy rate was often on the higher side. After one season, he was traded to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the 2023 season for the same price. At KKR, he showcased his batting fireworks with a stunning 68 off 29 balls against RCB, but his bowling remained expensive, picking up 7 wickets in 11 matches.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
From a betting perspective, Shardul Thakur is a high-risk, high-reward player. His primary strength lies in his uncanny ability to pick up wickets, often breaking crucial partnerships. He’s a strong candidate for ‘Most Wickets’ props, especially on pitches that offer a hint of seam movement or when bowling to a new batsman. His slower balls and knuckleballs are particularly effective on slightly slower tracks or larger grounds where batsmen are forced to hit harder.
However, his major weakness is his economy rate. Thakur can be expensive, particularly on flat pitches or in smaller grounds where his variations are easier to pick. Betting ‘Against’ his economy rate (e.g., over 8.5 or 9.0) can be a viable strategy in high-scoring encounters or against strong batting line-ups. His batting, while impactful, is inconsistent. Betting on his ‘Runs Scored’ prop is speculative unless he’s promoted up the order or the team is in a desperate situation requiring quick runs. He thrives in pressure situations, making him a dark horse for ‘Man of the Match’ bets when he delivers a match-winning spell or a crucial cameo.
Key Records & Milestones
- Leading wicket-taker for Chennai Super Kings in their 2021 IPL winning campaign with 21 wickets.
- Recorded his highest IPL score of 68 runs off just 29 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2023, showcasing his explosive batting ability.
- One of the few bowlers to have taken a four-wicket haul (4/36) while also scoring over 100 runs in a single IPL season (2022 for Delhi Capitals).
- Part of two IPL championship-winning squads with Chennai Super Kings (2018, 2021).
IPL Season Highlights
2021 (Chennai Super Kings): This was arguably Shardul’s most impactful season. He finished as CSK’s highest wicket-taker with 21 scalps from 16 matches, playing a pivotal role in their fourth IPL title win. His ability to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs and at the death was crucial. A standout performance included his 3/28 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, dismantling their strong batting line-up.
2022 (Delhi Capitals): While his economy was a concern, Thakur delivered significant all-round contributions for DC. He picked up 15 wickets and scored 120 runs in 14 matches. His best bowling figures of 4/36 came against Punjab Kings, showcasing his wicket-taking prowess. He also played crucial cameos with the bat, including a vital 32*.
2023 (Kolkata Knight Riders): Though his bowling struggled for consistency, Shardul provided one of the most memorable batting performances of the season. Against Royal Challengers Bangalore, he smashed a sensational 68 runs off just 29 balls, including 9 fours and 3 sixes, turning the tide of the match and proving his mettle as a genuine lower-order hitter. This innings remains his highest score in the IPL.