New Delhi: Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur I faced a nightmare Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Kerala batsmen destroyed the bowling attack and scored a huge score of 234/5 in 20 overs.
Shardul scored a dangerous 69 runs in his four over spell, while he had only one wicket to his name.
This performance equaled the record for the most expensive bowling in the history of the tournament, a dubious distinction he now shares. Ramesh Rahul,
Shardul’s struggles added to Mumbai’s woes as Kerala’s Salman Nizar played a brilliant inning of 99 not out off just 49 balls and stitched a decisive 131-run partnership with Rohan S Kunnumal (87 off 48).
His explosive strokeplay left Mumbai bowlers looking for answers, and Shardul had to bear the brunt of their anger.
His economy rate of 17.25 underlines the carnage that Shardul had to endure.
Mumbai’s innings, while chasing the huge target of 235 runs, still faltered. Ajinkya Rahane68 runs on 35 balls.
The contributions of Prithvi Shaw (23), Shreyas Iyer (32) and Hardik Tamore (23) were not enough to bridge the gap. Mumbai missed the mark by 43 runs to end at 191/9.
Although Thakur dismissed Kerala skipper Sanju Samson early, his inability to stem the flow of runs during the middle overs hurt Mumbai.
His irregular length and lack of variation allowed batsmen like Salman and Kunnumal to bat easily.
Questions arise on Shardul’s form, especially after remaining unsold. ipl 2025 Mega auction.
Once a vital all-rounder in T20 formats, this outing adds to the challenges he faces in regaining his status. Domestic cricket is a platform for players to prove themselves, so this performance can further weaken their confidence.