Shardul Thakur will don the purple and gold for the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Palghar-born cricketer represented Delhi Capitals in the tournament’s previous edition, claiming 15 scalps in 14 innings with a modest economy rate of 9.79. Similarly, the 31-year-old also orchestrated 120 runs with the bat with a strike rate of almost 140.
A month before the mini-auction, The Board of Control for Cricket in India unfolded a trade window wherein franchises can exchange players before locking horns at the auction table.
While Mumbai Indians traded Jason Beherendroff from Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) contracted Lockie Ferguson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Indian seamer Shardul Thakur.
The two-time IPL champions traded Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals for another Mumbai-based cricketer Aman Khan. The right-handed batter played only one game last season and failed to draw the headlines.
Earlier, the Delhi-based franchise locked in Shardul for the 2022 season for an astounding 10.75 crore.
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Shardul, who is currently in Wellington preparing for the white ball series against New Zealand has acted for 4 IPL franchises since his debut in 2015.
The bowling-all-rounder was formerly a recipient of the Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiants, and Punjab Kings. Bowling at an economy of 9.06, the right-arm-medium pacer has acquired 82 scalps in 75 matches so far in the IPL.
Shardul reached the pinnacle of his career in 2021, where he was the fourth-highest wicket-taker (21 scalps in 16 innings) in the tournament representing the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings. Shardul’s heroics played a pivotal role in Chennai’s glory in 2021.
The addition of the Indian seamer has only bolstered KKR’s pace bowling department. The likes of Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Shardul Thakur, and Lockie Ferguson could be efficacious on a friendly Eden surface.
The IPL mini-auction is set to take place in Kochi and would be held on 23rd December.
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