All-rounder Shardul Thakur is expected to sign an Indian Premier League (IPL) deal with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) after going unsold at the blockbuster auction. Since the team’s 2025 season preparations began, Thakur has been a part of it. He will be joining the Rishabh Pant-led squad in place of the injured Mohsin Khan.
Although the decision has not yet been formally announced, rumors have it that Thakur has been told of it and will accompany the team to Visakhapatnam for their season opener against the Delhi Capitals.
After suffering an ACL injury that prevented him from playing cricket for the last three months, Mohsin suffered a calf strain when he started bowling again in the LSG nets. The management had to make the decision to replace their core set of seamers due to injury, as they were still recuperating at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE).
Although they have not yet joined the IPL team, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, and Mayank Yadav are part of India’s potent pace attack. Even though Mayank and Akash Deep are at the CoE, Avesh has yet to join the team following his knee injury recovery. Mayank, the pace sensation, has begun bowling in the nets with less vigor, but he is still a long way from being match fit.
The young player’s body has endured a lot, including side strains, hamstring problems, left-sided back issues, and now right-sided back issues. Since October of last year, Thakur has not participated in a competitive match. It would be an absolute miracle if the 22-year-old survived, even if the CoE gave him the all-clear to join his IPL team.
Details of the injuries sustained by their seamers have not yet been released by the LSG camp, but mentor Zaheer Khan has stated that they would adopt a dynamic strategy this season.
“Due to injuries, things are complicated for a few of our players. However, it’s time to find the good and take steps to resolve the issue peacefully. While some players are with their physiotherapists, others are at the National Cricket Academy. It will not be appropriate to discuss this at this time. “This season, the situation will be dynamic,” Zaheer stated at a media appearance.
Since Shardul is the most seasoned bowler in the lineup, he will now be leading the charge in the absence of their primary seamers. The sole overseas seamer in the LSG team, which also includes young players Prince Yadav and Rajvardhan Hangargekar, is Shamar Joseph. The quicks don’t have the same level of sophistication as the spin section.
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