How Zaheer Khan’s One Phone Call Revived Shardul Thakur’s IPL 2025 Journey!

In the ongoing IPL 2025 season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have played two matches, securing one victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets while suffering a narrow 1-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals. Despite mixed results, one constant for LSG has been their ability to strike early with the ball, thanks to the outstanding performances of Shardul Thakur. Thakur has been in sensational form, leading the wicket-taking charts with 6 wickets at an impressive average of 8.83. 

His ability to dismantle top-order batters has been crucial for LSG, setting the tone in both matches. With his lethal swing and aggressive bowling, Thakur has become LSG’s key weapon, ensuring the team remains competitive in the tournament. His early breakthroughs continue to be a game-changer for the side. Even in the game against Delhi Capitals, Shardul Thakur managed to bowl a crucial spell for the team where he picked up two wickets in the first over of the game and ending up with the figures of 2/19 in the 2 overs bowled by him in the match. 

However, Shardul Thakur’s rise as the leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025 hasn’t come easy, and much of the credit goes to Zaheer Khan, the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). This is because Thakur initially went unsold in the IPL auction, leaving him without a team for the season. It was only after LSG faced injuries to key pacers that the franchise reached out to him, with Zaheer personally making the call that changed Thakur’s fate.

Seizing the opportunity, Thakur joined LSG and made an immediate impact. In a crucial match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he delivered a match-winning spell, taking 4 wickets for 34 runs in his four-over quota. His dismissals included the in-form Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan in consecutive deliveries, breaking SRH’s momentum early in the innings. Later, he returned to remove key batters in the death overs, ensuring SRH was restricted to 190/9. In the Post Match Presentation, Shardul Thakur said:

In IPL, all these things keep happening. Unfortunately, (there were) a few injuries here and there, and there were a few inquiries if I could join the camp. But LSG approached me first so I had to accept it. Zaheer Khan gave me a call. You have good and bad days, you have to go through it in cricket. Winning in the game is important for me. I don’t look at the wickets or runs column. I want to create an impact and a match-winning performance. The batters are coming hard at the bowlers, why not the bowlers go hard at them, that was our plan against SRH. They have been scoring heavily on flat pitches. It fell in our pockets initially (earlier today).

Following this performance, Thakur earned the prestigious Purple Cap as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker at that point. Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the disappointment of going unsold but emphasized the unpredictability of IPL. He credited Zaheer for backing him and helping him make a strong comeback. His performance not only silenced critics but also reaffirmed his ability as a game-changer in the league. Ultimately, Thakur’s resurgence highlights how a single opportunity, coupled with the right mentorship, can turn a player’s fortunes around. 

Fans Hail “Lord” Shardul Thakur for His Spectacular Comeback in IPL 2025!

Shardul Thakur’s incredible comeback in IPL 2025 has made fans go crazy on social media. Just a few months ago, he went unsold in the IPL auction, which led to a lot of trolling. Since he had no IPL contract, he even signed a deal with Essex for the County Championship, focusing on the England tour of India, where India will play five Test matches. However, destiny had different plans for him. 

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced an injury setback when Mohsin Khan was ruled out, and Shardul got a last-minute call-up to the squad. He made an immediate impact in his very first match for LSG against Delhi Capitals, picking up two crucial wickets. He dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel in the very first over, giving his team a dream start. 

Though LSG lost the match by one wicket, Shardul’s performance did not go unnoticed. In the second game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shardul was even more lethal. He dismissed Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan on consecutive deliveries, leaving SRH struggling early. Later, he returned for his second spell and picked up the wickets of Abhinav Manohar and Mohammed Shami, finishing with impressive figures of 4/34.

His brilliant bowling has made him the leading wicket-taker of the season so far, earning him the Purple Cap with six wickets at an average of 8.83. Fans on social media have been calling him “Lord Shardul” and celebrating his comeback, hoping he continues this form throughout the season.