Having gone unsold in the mega auction, out-of-favour India all-rounder Shardul Thakur will make his return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Lucknow Super Giants onboarding him as a replacement for the injured left-arm fast bowler Mohsin Khan. (Schedule | Teams | Points Table)
Thakur, who amassed 505 runs and picked up 35 wickets in nine matches during the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai after a foot surgery, had signed with Essex to play county cricket. He has been signed from the Registered Available Player Pool at his reserve price of INR 2 crore.
The 33-year-old brings valuable IPL experience, having played 95 matches for five franchises: Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Kolkata Knight Riders and Rising Pune Supergiant. He has claimed 67 Wickets with an economy rate of 8.89.
Under new captain Rishabh Pant, LSG will commence their campaign against Delhi Capitals on Monday (March 24) in Visakhapatnam.
Mohsin had reportedly sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear in his right knee at the end of December during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Though he did join the LSG camp, an ESPNcricinfo report stated that he is currently "doing rehab and will work with the LSG support staff to chalk out his route back".
