Read! Unsold Shardul Thakur Trains with LSG Camp in Preparation for IPL 2025

Former CSK player Shardul Thakur, who went unsold at the IPL Mega Auction, was seen practicing with the LSG camp ahead of the tournament. This move surprised fans, leading them to wonder what Shardul was doing with the LSG players.

Shardul Thakur is a former two-time IPL champion who played a pivotal role for CSK in their 2021 title triumph, taking 21 wickets in 16 matches that season, which made him the team's leading wicket-taker. In addition to his bowling skills, Shardul can contribute with the bat, showcasing himself as a clean hitter of the ball.

He began his IPL career with the Rising Pune Supergiant under the captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After an impressive stint with RPSG, Dhoni brought him to CSK, where he became an important bowler for the team. Shardul was bought by KKR in the 2022 season, where his bowling performance was below expectations; however, he did contribute with the bat.

He was brought back by CSK in last year’s mini-auction but only took 5 wickets in 9 matches, which led to him going unsold in this season's IPL Mega Auction.

After going unsold this season, Shardul Thakur signed with Essex to play in the county championship, where he performed exceptionally with the red ball, helping Mumbai reach the semi-finals of the Ranji Trophy. He also played a crucial all-round role in Mumbai’s triumph at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2025.

Now that he is committed to Essex, Shardul Thakur was seen bowling in the nets with LSG players. This news has come as a surprise to many fans. Is Shardul's role as a net bowler for LSG, or is he there to replace players in the squad?

It has been reported that LSG is dealing with clearance issues for players like Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Mohsin Khan, who is recovering from an injury and has yet to receive clearance from the NCA in Bengaluru. With this injury crisis, LSG is in a precarious situation, as all their lead pacers are injured. Recent news suggests that Mayank Yadav may not recover in time for the IPL and could miss the first half of the tournament. 

Given Mayank’s potential absence, there is a strong possibility that Shardul Thakur may be announced as his replacement. With 94 wickets in the tournament, Shardul could get another opportunity with LSG this season.