A phone call from Zaheer Khan asked him to prepare for a call-up, began a change in luck for Shardul Thakur.
On Thursday, the Mumbai all-rounder was rewarded with the Purple Cap after becoming the lead wicket-winter of the Indian Premier League this season. Not long ago, however, Thakur – in a quiet moment of introspection, when he was unsold in the mega auction – wonder, “Am I badly this?”
In the leading weeks for the auction, the Mumbai all -rounder requested some franchise owners to consider it once. Eventually, he played 95 matches for five franchisees. He also recited an Indian team partner. At the age of 33, Thakur was working hard to return to India when he was taken away for a tour of Australia, as the selectors had chosen Nitish Reddy ahead of him. IPL, he thought, there would be a springboard to return to the national team.
A day before the auction last November, where 366 Indian players registered, Thakur received a ‘positive’ response from some franchise officials. He promised that he was on his ‘wish list’. But soon, there will be a reality check – none of the 10 franchisees chose him in two days of the auction.
Thakur was disappointed but true for his nature, he did not last long. He saw other opportunities – English County Team Essex offered him a contract. While signing for him, he put a section that if an IPL team called a call, he would choose on county cricket.
In depth, he knew that the doors of the IPL were not completely closed on him. “The bowlers get fast injured. Who knows, I will play for any other franchise! One or another will take me, otherwise I will fly to England and play county cricket,” he then told the Indian Express.
His faith came true. Mohsin Khan tore his ACL while playing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy last December and the Lucknow super veterans drafted him as a replacement for injury. Thakur is currently taking a major wicket this season, with six scale in two matches at 8.83.
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Shardul Thakur of Lucknow Super Veterans celebrated the wicket of Jake Fraser-Maikagurak of Delhi capitals. (Photo: Sportzpics for IPL)
This is a notable change. LSG patron Zaheer gave Thakur a prominent for a possible step during the Ranji Trophy knockout. “I signed up for county cricket if I was not selected for the IPL. But while playing Ranji knockout, I received a call from Zaheer that they are looking at me as a possible replacement, so don’t close myself. If we get you as a replacement, we will need to start.
Thakur had to appear for bowling before he signed to him. He was flown near Lucknow to join the team, but was subject to a fitness withdrawal from the Center of Excellence in Bangalore. During this period, Thakur received a call from another franchise, asking him to join for a huge salary.
This proposal was very attractive to celebrate. But after consulting his friends, Thakur assumed that it would be ‘immoral’ to leave LSG, who first approached him; Especially when no one wanted him. He is believed to have told a close friend, “Money is important but not at the cost of morality.”
LSG signed Thakur from the available available player Pool registered at a reserved price of INR 2 crore. “It was a bad day when I was not selected in auction,” said Thakur. “Ups and down are in cricket.”
