Follow UsShardul Thakur continued to clutch out performances one after another for Mumbai, with his second half-century of the clash against Jammu and Kashmir on January 24. On a surface where most other batters have struggled big-time, the all-rounder looked the best, showing solid technique and excellent composure.
The 33-year-old walked out to bat with the score reading 91/6, with Mumbai just leading the contest by five runs. While he saw wickets fall for fun in the morning session, Shardul was playing his innings on a completely different surface.
Shardul combined both defensive techniques with an outrageous shot-making attitude, changing the complexion of the clash against J&K. Paras Dogra’s men were looking to complete a rare ten-wicket win against Mumbai before eight boundaries from Shardul brought the game back in the hosts’ favour.
Mumbai went from leading the game by just four runs to leading by 114 on the back of Shardul’s second half-century. He was also Mumbai’s top run scorer in the first innings, where he scored 51.
The Mumbaikar hasn’t played for India since the tour to South Africa (December 2023) and last played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2024, after which he went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
With India’s next Test assignment in England, Shardul’s stellar display might just earn him a return.