NEW DELHI: Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur endured a nightmarish outing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as Kerala’s batters dismantled the bowling attack, piling up a massive 234/5 in 20 overs.
Shardul’s four-over spell leaked an alarming 69 runs, with just a solitary wicket to his name.
This performance equalled the record for the most expensive bowling figures in the tournament’s history, a dubious distinction he now shares with Ramesh Rahul.
Shardul’s struggles compounded Mumbai’s woes, as Kerala’s Salman Nizar smashed a scintillating 99 not out off just 49 balls, combining with Rohan S Kunnummal (87 off 48) for a game-defining 131-run partnership.
Their explosive strokeplay left Mumbai’s bowlers searching for answers, with Shardul bearing the brunt of their fury.
His economy rate of 17.25 further underlines the carnage Shardul had to endure.
Mumbai’s chase of the mammoth 235-run target faltered despite Ajinkya Rahane‘s 68 runs off 35 balls.
Contributions from Prithvi Shaw (23), Shreyas Iyer (32), and Hardik Tamore (23) were not enough to bridge the gap. Mumbai finished at 191/9, falling short by 43 runs.
While Thakur did dismiss Kerala skipper Sanju Samson early, it was his inability to stem the flow of runs during the middle overs that hurt Mumbai.
His erratic lengths and lack of variation allowed batters like Salman and Kunnummal to tee off with ease.
Shardul’s form raises questions, especially coming on the heels of being unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Once a pivotal all-rounder in T20 formats, this outing magnifies the challenges he faces in regaining his mojo. With domestic cricket serving as a platform for players to prove themselves, this performance might further dent his confidence.