Shardul Thakur Makes Strong Case for Balanced Pitches in IPL

Shardul Thakur has made a strong impact in the IPL after going unsold in the auction, taking six wickets in his first two games for Lucknow Super Giants.

Shardul Thakur's Indian Premier League (IPL) season was off to a slow start, as he went unsold in the auction. The seamer had planned to play English county cricket instead. However, his fortunes changed with a late call-up by Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan. Thakur has since proved his worth, taking six wickets in his first two games.

Thakur's impressive performance has been a surprise to many, given that he went unsold in the auction despite having played for five different teams prior. However, he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands, leading the race for the Purple Cap. Thakur took two wickets against Delhi Capitals in the opener and followed it up with a 4-34 performance that inspired Lucknow to a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

When asked if he thought he would be playing in the IPL this season, Thakur was candid in his response. “Honestly, no, but I had made my plans. I also planned to play county cricket if I was not picked in the IPL,” he said. Thakur revealed that Lucknow mentor Zaheer Khan had been in touch with him, keeping him on standby as a potential replacement. “(Lucknow mentor) Zaheer Khan had called me when I was playing in the (domestic) Ranji Trophy and he told me that you may be called in as a potential replacement, so don't switch yourself off.”

Thakur acknowledged the ups and downs of his career but expressed confidence in his abilities. “If you are called in as a replacement, you are likely to start. Ups and downs are a part of life. I have always backed my skills,” he said, after being named the player of the match.

The ongoing tournament has seen batting-friendly pitches dominate the proceedings, with several teams effortlessly scoring over 200 runs. However, Shardul Thakur believes that the pitches need to be more balanced to allow bowlers to thrive as well. “Bowlers get very little in these kinds of pitches,” he said, emphasizing the need for more even surfaces.

The story of Shardul Thakur so far.... pic.twitter.com/Yncam1gtie

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Thakur's own performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad demonstrated the potential for bowlers to make an impact on more balanced pitches. He tore through the top order, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan cheaply. Kishan, who had scored a century in the previous game, fell to Thakur for a first-ball duck. Thakur reiterated his call for more balanced pitches, saying, “Even in the last game I said that pitches should be prepared in such a way that the game hangs in the balance for batters and bowlers.”