After going unsold in IPL auction, Thakur proves worth as late replacement

Shardul Thakur was all set for a stint in English county cricket when he went unsold at the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction but after a late call-up by Lucknow Super Giants, the seamer has proved everyone wrong with six wickets in two games.

Thakur had played for five different teams prior to the auction but went unsold. However, he was roped in by Lucknow as a late replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan on Sunday.

Four days later, he now leads the race for the Purple Cap for most wickets, taking two against Delhi Capitals in their opener before his 4-34 inspired Lucknow to a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday.

Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh also starred in the match as Lucknow easily chased down the victory target of 191 in 16.1 overs.

Pooran slammed 70 off 26 while Marsh scored 52 off 31.

When asked if he thought he would be playing in the IPL this season, player of the match Thakur said: "Honestly, no but I had made my plans. I also planned to play county cricket if I was not picked in the IPL.

"(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.

"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."

In a tournament where batting-friendly pitches have been the norm after several teams comfortably scored more than 200 runs, Thakur said the pitches needed to be more balanced so bowlers could also thrive.

Against Hyderabad, Thakur ripped through the top order to cheaply dismiss Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan, who scored a hundred in the previous game but fell for a first-ball duck to the seamer.

"Bowlers get very little in these kinds of pitches," he added.

"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."