ランジ・トロフィー: シャルドゥル・タクールがFCの2世紀のゴールを決め、ムンバイとJ&Kの戦いに火をつける

The nickname “Lord Shardul” certainly seems fitting, as Shardul Thakur played a crucial role in rescuing Mumbai from an epic collapse by scoring a crucial century against Jammu and Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy match against Jammu & Kashmir at the BKC, MCA cricket ground, Mumbai. Thakur showed a brave display of batting and composure, reaching his century in just 105 balls, marking only his second first-class century.

Shardul saves Mumbai

Shardul Thakur stepped up after Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal left Mumbai struggling at 91/6. Shortly thereafter, Shams Mulani’s departure further worsened the situation, reducing the score to 101/7. However, Thakur, along with Tanush Kotian, delivered an impressive performance. Both batters guided Mumbai to a respectable 249/7, securing a lead of more than 150 runs, which was indeed remarkable.

Shardul & Kotian increases J&K’s tension

Mumbai faced the prospect of being bowled out for a paltry score, giving Jammu and Kashmir an easy target. Instead, this crucial partnership between Shardul Thakur and Tanush Kotian not only rebuilt the innings but also put their team in a strong position. For Jammu and Kashmir, chasing such a target will be no easy task, as Mumbai boasts experienced bowlers like Thakur himself, Mohit Avasthi, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, and others.

Series of dissapointing events for Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur faced challenging times in 2024. He suffered a foot injury that required surgery, which he underwent after the IPL in June 2024. It took him some time to make a comeback. Later, he went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction in November, and he was subsequently overlooked for India’s squad in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with Nitish Kumar Reddy being selected over him despite Thakur’s impressive performances on earlier tours of Australia for India. Despite all these setbacks, the batter made a comeback on the domestic cricket, getting his old touch.