India’s star pacer Shardul Thakur has not been selected for the Champions Trophy squad but he has been signed by Essex for the county championship. Shardul Thakur‘s performance in the county championship can certainly turn out a fortune decider for him. Shardul Thakur currently represents Mumbai in domestic cricket and he had a pretty decent season as well.
India all-rounder Shardul Thakur will play seven matches for County team Essex in Division One from the beginning of the 2025 season, the club announced on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Shardul Thakur, who has so far played 11 Tests, 47 ODIs and 25 T20Is over the last eight years, will be playing in the English country circuit for the first time.
Shardul Thakur’s recent performance and career at a glance
So far in his 11 Test appearances for India Shardul Thakur has managed to lead 31 wickets. The cricketer Thakur accumulated 65 wickets in his 47 appearances for the ODI team. Shardul Thakur has obtained 33 wickets through 25 T20 cricket games. Thakur was dropped from the national team in 2023 when he played his last Test match and ODI in the same year.
Thakur was not able to deliver a performance for the team and hence was dropped, Although he did participate in the World Test Championship in 2023 and ODI world cup which was hosted by India itself. His return seems difficult in the near future. He is currently playing the semifinal match against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai.
During Ranji Trophy matches Shardul Thakur continues to show amazing performance for the Mumbai cricket team. Both batting and bowling have shown strong performances from Shardul Thakur during his last three matches. Through his recent matches, Shardul Thakur has managed to take 19 wickets together with scoring 1 hundred and 2 fifty-run scores with the bat.
Shardul Thakur can make a stronger argument for his return to the Indian Test squad by filling match appearances in the County Championship before the Indian team faces England in their 5-match Test series after IPL 2025. During his participation in the County Championship on English soil Shardul could prove to the Indian selectors that he deserves a spot in the team.
Shardul Thakur To Be Featured In County Cricket, Signs A Contract With Essex For 7 Games
Shardul Thakur has been in rich form both with the bat and the ball, having scored 51 and 119 for his second First-Class century last month against Jammu and Kashmir, followed by a brisk 84 against Meghalaya in the Ranji Trophy group stage.
Thakur also claimed a hat-trick in the match against Meghalaya, in a bid to prove his form and fitness for a national team comeback, with his last appearance being at the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Shardul Thakur is all set to represent Essex for a brief stint in the upcoming season of the County Championship. The 33-year-old has been signed up for a seven-match deal in initial half of the 2025-26 season. This will be Thakur’s first taste of County cricket and the bowling all-rounder is understandably elated about the challenge.
“I am feeling excited to join Essex this summer. Personally it brings new challenges and opportunities to showcase my talent and skills. County cricket is something I always wanted to experience and I am glad that I’ll be representing the Eagles,” Thakur was quoted as saying by Essex on their website.
Essex’s director of cricket and former England and Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood said,
“We were very clear amongst ourselves that a high quality quick bowler, with lower-order batting ability, was a key target for the Club this winter.
“In Shardul, we have signed just that, and we can’t wait to welcome him to Essex and see how he gets on in the County Championship,” he added.
Shardul Thakur, who was not picked by any of the Indian Premier League teams in the mega auction ahead of the 2025 season, would thus get ample game-time and exposure to conditions in England to prove his form and fitness ahead of India’s tour of England in June for five Tests.