Ahead of his side’s first home fixture against Punjab Kings on Tuesday, Lucknow Super Giants pacer Shardul Thakur said that the bowlers want pitches that give them a “fair chance and opportunity” in the game. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Shardul Thakur has asked for restoring the balance between bat and ball amid high-scoring games in the Indian Premier League.
Lucknow Super Giants’ all-rounder Shardul Thakur recently came forward and talked about the teams posting huge totals on the board in every other game in the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2025. It is interesting to note that sides like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders have quite often posted big totals on the board, taking bowlers out of the game completely.
Shardul Thakur : The story of Unsold to Unstoppable in IPL 2025
Just weeks after going unsold in the IPL 2024 auction, Shardul Thakur made a roaring comeback, proving his worth on the big stage. The pacer, who went without a bid initially, was later roped in by Lucknow Super Giants as a replacement—and he wasted no time in making an impact.
Facing the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s explosive batting lineup, Shardul Thakur delivered a stunning performance, rattling the opposition with his fiery spell. His crucial breakthroughs by getting rid of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan dismantled SRH’s top order, restricting them from running away with the game. He went on to pick Abhinav Manohar in the 17th over and Mohammed Shami in the 19th, getting the purple cap
Known for his ability to strike at crucial moments, Shardul Thakur’s spell was a game-changer, as he also was on a hat-trick in the powerplay itself, sending Kishan, who scored a ton in the previous match, for a golden duck. Shardul Thakur’s brilliance was not a one-off show. In the previous match against Delhi Capitals, he had already signaled his return to form by picking up two key wickets, helping Lucknow tighten their grip on the contest.
Shardul Thakur’s impressive T20 career stats highlight his effectiveness as a wicket-taking bowler. He has played 99 matches, with 104 wickets to his name. His best bowling figures in a match stand at 4/34, with a bowling average of 28.85 and an economy rate of 9.23. His strike rate of 18.76 shows his ability to break partnerships, with one four-wicket haul to his credit.
Reflecting on the same, LSG’s Shardul Thakur took centre stage and talked about the pitch curators should make the pitches that have something in them for the bowlers as well.
Shardul Thakur asks for fair chance for bowlers amid run fests in IPL 2025
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) all-rounder Shardul Thakur has called for curators to prepare pitches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to ensure the bowlers remain in the game. The 33-year-old said that matches should not become “one-sided” where the batters dominate and the bowlers have little or no say.
Shardul Thakur felt that not many bowlers would openly speak about the need for surfaces that assist bowlers and keep them in the game.
“All that the bowlers are asking is to prepare the pitch in such a manner that the game hangs in balance and it should not be just one-sided where batters are coming and smashing us, because all we want is a fair chance and fair opportunity in the game.
“A lot of them might not be outspoken or they might not get a chance to speak in front of media or give interviews about the pitch conditions,” Thakur said in a press conference on Sunday (via ESPNCricinfo).
Shardul Thakur, who was brought in as a replacement for Mohsin Khan, has emerged as LSG’s leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025 so far, with six wickets in two matches. He attributed his success to his preparation and understanding of his own game, as well as adapting to pitch conditions.
“I think it is all part of the preparation. The strength lies in how well you understand your own game and what is the best possible way that you can bowl on that particular day, looking at the pitch conditions, looking at the situation of the game and which batter is playing,” Thakur said.
Shardul Thakur played down the role of the Impact Player in teams amassing giant scores in IPL 2025. The all-rounder felt that pitches contributed to teams making high scores in the tournament.
“The Impact Player rule is an entertainment factor and games change a lot, but that these 250 scores are being made is not only because of this rule change, but also because of the way the pitches are being made. We are just saying as a bowling unit that give us a fair and square chance where we can get a batsman out,” Thakur said.
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur was recently adjudged Player of the Match for his match-winning figures of 4/34 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their home ground. Courtesy of his performance, SRH were restricted to 190/9 in their 20 overs and Lucknow comfortably chased down the target in 16.1 overs, registering their first win of the season. LSG will look to continue with their winning momentum against PBKS on April 1.
Also Read: LSG vs PBKS: Can Punjab Kings Break Lucknow Super Giants’ Stronghold?