Shardul Thakur is an ultimate example of a high variance player. In some spells he is too much wayward making you go mad. During some, he bowls some unplayable deliveries and takes 1-2 wickets in an over. On pitches where most of the bowlers don’t get much help, he provides crucial breakthroughs. On pitches where he’s supposed to do well, he sometimes leaks runs. Shardul Thakur has had an interesting ODI career. He is a complete package of all the emotions you go through in a match. He makes things happen. That’s why he’s termed as the ‘Lord’. He is a quintessential part of this Indian setup going into the World Cup.
Bowling Record (Post the 2019 World Cup)
| Year | Innings | Overs | Wickets | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | BBI | Dot% |
| 2020 | 5 | 43.1 | 7 | 7.44 | 45.9 | 37.0 | 0 | 3/51 | 51.0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 23.3 | 7 | 6.72 | 22.6 | 20.1 | 0 | 4/67 | 48.9 |
| 2022 | 16 | 115.0 | 22 | 5.60 | 29.3 | 31.4 | 0 | 3/30 | 58.1 |
| 2023 | 7 | 38.5 | 14 | 5.92 | 16.4 | 16.6 | 0 | 4/37 | 63.5 |
There’s no doubt in agreeing that Shardul is a match winner. You need players like him in the team. He’ll always run in with energy and purpose giving his all on the field. He has got a lovely outswinger mixed with a cross seam delivery that hurries on to the right hander. He’ll get wickets on deliveries where he shouldn’t. He has been the most important bowler for the Indian side post the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Shardul has been the leading wicket taker for India post the 2019 World Cup. He has taken 52 wickets in 33 innings. Shardul is the fourth highest wicket taker overall behind Zampa, Hasaranga and Mehidy Hasan.
He has been on the higher side of the economy. But he has improved his economy since the last 2 years. In 2020, he had an economy of 7.44 with an average of 45.9. In 2021, the economy dropped below 7. In the last 2 years, it has gone well below 6. For a bowler who is consistently taking wickets in the middle overs with an economy below 6 is quite more than you could ask for.
Batting Record (Post the 2019 World Cup)
| Year | Innings | Runs | Balls | Outs | Avg | SR | HS | 50 | 100 | 4s | 6s | Dot % |
| 2020 | 3 | 38 | 31 | 3 | 12.7 | 122.6 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 41.9 |
| 2021 | 1 | 30 | 21 | 1 | 30.0 | 142.9 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 42.9 |
| 2022 | 11 | 163 | 177 | 8 | 20.4 | 92.1 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 46.3 |
| 2023 | 4 | 45 | 46 | 4 | 11.2 | 97.8 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 47.8 |
Shardul provides immense balance to this Indian side. India have been often found wanting due to their lack of batting order. He bridges the gap between the finishers and a very long tail. The Mumbai bowler is more than capable with the bat. He has got the Calypso Flair often making the top order batsmen gasp in awe. In a way, he is often a man of crisis stepping up with bat or ball whenever the team needs. Time and again he has proved that he has got some special qualities with the bat. He is not someone who could just hang around. Thakur takes the attack to the opposition and can hurt you even with a small cameo. He showed glimpses of his destructiveness with the bat in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL this year.
Going into the World Cup, Shardul Thakur is as important a player as the Indian top 3. His all round abilities will determine India’s chances in the World Cup. He needs to keep doing his ‘Lord-ly’ things to help India clinch an ICC title after a span of over a decade.
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