Shardul Thakur Unsold: A Missed Opportunity For IPL Teams

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Shardul Thakur, a talented Indian all-rounder, surprisingly went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. Known for his skills with both bat and ball, Thakur did not attract interest from any franchises, even at his base price of ₹2 crore.

While his recent form may have influenced this outcome, his IPL and international experience could still have made him a valuable addition to many teams. Some argue that the new Impact Player rule might have reduced the demand for players like him this season.

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Now that the auction is done and teams are set, franchises are gearing up for an exciting IPL season. However, some teams might have missed an opportunity to strengthen their squads by adding a player like Shardul. Here’s a look at three teams where he could have been a perfect fit.

1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

The Kolkata Knight Riders, defending champions, have built a strong squad with retained stars like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. They also brought in overseas all-rounders like Rovman Powell and Moeen Ali. However, with a limit on overseas players in the playing XI, their reliance on Indian all-rounders becomes crucial.

While KKR has players like Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, and Venkatesh Iyer, an experienced option like Shardul Thakur could have added depth. His ability to bat higher up the order and contribute with pace bowling would have bolstered their team balance. Additionally, as a backup for Indian pacers like Umran Malik, Harshit Rana, or Vaibhav Arora, Thakur’s versatility could have been invaluable.

2. SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)

After falling just short in last year’s final, SunRisers Hyderabad are eager for a title win. They boast a strong lineup of overseas all-rounders, including skipper Pat Cummins and Travis Head. However, managing the overseas player limit means they must rely on their Indian all-rounders like Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshal Patel.

Shardul Thakur could have provided a dependable alternative, excelling in both batting and bowling. With Mohammed Shami leading their pace attack and support from Jaydev Unadkat and Simarjeet Singh, Thakur’s inclusion would have given SRH a solid backup plan for their fast-bowling lineup.

3. Delhi Capitals (DC)

The Delhi Capitals are still chasing their first IPL trophy and have put together a strong squad for 2025. Their batting lineup, featuring stars like Faf du Plessis, Harry Brook, and KL Rahul, looks formidable. In the bowling department, they boast names like Mitchell Starc and T Natarajan.

However, their all-rounder options appear limited beyond Axar Patel. While they have exciting uncapped players like Sameer Rizvi and Darshan Nalkande, an experienced all-rounder like Shardul Thakur could have brought balance and depth. His ability to perform under pressure would have been a big asset in critical moments.

Conclusion

Although Shardul Thakur went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, he remains a capable player who could have strengthened several teams. His experience and dual skills would have made him a valuable addition to franchises looking to enhance their balance. Teams like KKR, SRH, and DC may later realize they missed a trick by not adding him to their squads.

As the season unfolds, it will be interesting to see if Shardul’s absence makes a difference to these teams’ performances.

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