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Thakur spoke about how Zaheer Khan played a huge role in instilling hope that he could represent a team in the IPL yet again.
LSG’s Shardul Thakur (AP)
After LSG’s dominant win over SRH, Shardul Thakur revealed it was head coach Zaheer Khan who persuaded him to join the Lucknow Super Giants right when he was ready to leave to play County cricket in England after going unsold in the IPL 2025 Auction.
Shardul Thakur’s fabulous four-fer helped Lucknow Super Giants seal their 5-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad and also helped the pacer skyrocket his way to the top of the Purple Cap standings as well.
Thakur, who went unsold and was brought into LSG for IPL 2025 as merely a replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan, produced a scintillating spell of 4/34 — the best of his IPL career — ultimately also clinching the Player of the Match award after LSG sealed their win.
When asked about his thought process and plans after the disappointing IPL 2025 auction, Thakur spoke about how Zaheer Khan played a huge role in instilling hope that he could represent a team in the IPL yet again.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I would be playing in the IPL now. I planned to play county cricket, if I was not picked in the IPL,” Thakur revealed in an interview after receiving the Player of the Match award on Thursday.
“Zaheer Khan had called me when I was playing in the Ranji Trophy and he told me that I may be called in as a potential replacement. So, he told me ‘Don’t switch yourself off’.
“If you are called in as a replacement, you are likely to start. Ups and downs are a part of life. But, I have always backed my skills.”
Thakur also clarified that it wasn’t the individual accolades, such as the Purple Cap that mattered to him, but winning as a team that trumps all.
“Winning in the game is important for me. I don’t look at the wickets or runs column. I want to create an impact and a match-winning performance,” Thakur exclaimed.
The Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants finally sealed the first win of their IPL 2025 season, thanks to Thakur’s contribution, and will now look to build on the same momentum going forward.