Shardul Thakur Biography: When the pressure peaks and the odds tilt away, Shardul Thakur has a habit of stepping out of the shadows and rewriting the script.
He was never the headline act but time and again, Shardul Thakur has turned himself into India’s most surprising hero.
Every time he’s counted out, Shardul Thakur finds a way to return stronger and more decisive than before.
Thakur was part of the Indian squad which won the 2018 and 2023 Asia Cup.
Personal Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shardul Narendra Thakur |
| Date of Birth | 16 October 1991 |
| Birthplace | Palghar, Maharashtra, India |
| Age | 34 years (as of early 2026) |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Role | Right-Arm Medium Bowler |
| Education | Anand Ashram Convent English High School, Palghar; Swami Vivekanand International School; University of Mumbai |
| Estimated Net Worth | ₹49 crore |
| Teams | Mumbai, Kolkata Knight Riders, India-A, India |
Early Life
Shardul Thakur was born into a humble and supportive family in Palghar, Maharashtra.
His father, Narendra Thakur, worked hard to provide stability for the family, while his mother played a key role in encouraging his ambitions.
Though not from a cricketing background, his parents recognized his passion for the sport early on and stood firmly behind his dreams.
Thakur grew up far from the glamour of international cricket.
In a small town where opportunities were limited, his passion for the game began on local grounds, playing with friends and dreaming of bigger stages.
Recognizing his potential early, his family supported his ambitions despite the challenges.
As a teenager, Thakur would travel long distances often for hours each day from Palghar to Mumbai to attend training sessions.
These journeys were physically exhausting, but they became a crucial part of his discipline and determination.
He trained under experienced coaches at Mumbai’s competitive cricket circuit, where the standards were high and opportunities hard-earned.
Initially, Thakur struggled with fitness and consistency, even being told at one point that he needed to improve his physique to succeed.
Instead of being discouraged, he used the criticism as motivation, working intensely on his fitness and bowling.
His persistence paid off when he started making a mark in local and age-group cricket, eventually earning a place in Mumbai’s domestic team.
Those early years of travel, sacrifice, and relentless practice laid the foundation for the resilient cricketer he would become.
Domestic Career
Shorter than a typical fast bowler and criticized for his conditioning early in his career, Thakur ultimately became a part of the Mumbai domestic team.
In November 2012, he made his first-class debut for Mumbai against Rajasthan at Jaipur in the 2012–13 Ranji Trophy.
He did not have a good start to his career as he took four wickets at a bowling average of 82.0 from his first four games.
In 2013–14 Ranji season, he took 27 wickets at 26.25 from six games, with one five-wicket haul. In the 2014-15 Ranji season, he took 48 wickets at 20.81 from ten games with five five-wicket hauls.
He made his List A debut on 27 February 2014, for Mumbai in the 2013–14 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In 2015-16 Ranji Trophy final, he took eight wickets against Saurashtra and led Mumbai to win its 41st Ranji Trophy title.
International Career
He was named in India’s 16-man squad for India’s Test tour of West Indies in 2016, but he did not play.
In August 2017, he was named in India’s limited-overs squad for the series against Sri Lanka.
He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on 31 August 2017 against Sri Lanka.
He became the second Indian cricketer to wear the number 10 jersey after Sachin Tendulkar, which raised various controversial comments in social media.
Later, he changed his jersey number to 54 due to controversy.
On 29 November 2017, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) retired Tendulkar’s No. 10 jersey.
He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for India against South Africa on 21 February 2018.
In March 2018, he was selected to play in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy.
In a match against Sri Lanka he took a career best 4-27 to bring the game back to India’s favour, winning the Man Of the Match award. He finished with 6 wickets from 5 matches at an average of 29.33.
In May 2018, he was named in India’s Test squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June 2018, but did not play.
In October 2018, he made his Test debut against the West Indies, making him the 294th player to represent Team India in Tests.
His debut ended after bowling just 10 deliveries due to suffering from a groin strain in his right leg.
In the historic Gabba Test vs Australia, Shardul made 67 in the first innings and took a total of 7 wickets in that match. Thakur was included in the India squad for the 2021 England tour.
An injury ruled him out of the next two Tests before he returned for the Fourth Test at the Oval.
He made 57 in 36 balls in India’s first innings, reaching his half-century in 31 balls, the fastest in Tests played in England.
In the second innings, he scored 60 in 72 balls to help India post 466.
He took three crucial wickets with the ball, dismissing Ollie Pope for 81 in the first innings, and Rory Burns and Joe Root in the second, and was instrumental in securing his team’s victory.
Thakur finished the series with 117 runs at 39 with the bat, while claiming seven wickets at 22 with the ball.
In September 2021, Thakur was named as one of three reserve players in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup to be held in October.
On 13 October, Thakur replaced Axar Patel in India’s main squad for the tournament.
He was included in the playing eleven for two games of the tournament.
In the second Test match against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in January 2022, Shardul Thakur registered his first five-wicket haul in Test matches, and also registered the best bowling figures for an Indian bowler against South Africa.
His figures were 7/61, which helped India bowl out South Africa for 229.
He also provided a quickfire cameo of 28 runs to help increase India’s lead in the second innings, however India lost the match. Thakur’s match figures were 8/108.
In January 2023, Thakur scored a total of 6 wickets in the ODI series vs NZ.
Also he became Player of the match in the 3rd ODI by scoring 25 runs with bat and 3 wickets.
IPL Career
Thakur was signed by Kings XI Punjab at the 2014 IPL player auction ahead of the 2015 season of Indian Premier League and made his debut against Delhi Daredevils, taking one wicket in his four overs.
In March 2017, he was acquired by Rising Pune Supergiants for the tenth season of the IPL and in January 2018, was bought by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the next season.
In 2019 Chennai reached the IPL final; Thakur took two wickets but was out off the final ball of the match with two runs required for victory.
In 2021, he was the leading wicket-taker for Chennai with 21 wickets during the season.
At the 2022 IPL auction, Thakur was signed for ₹10.75 crore.
After playing in 14 matches during the 2022 season, in November 2022 he was traded to the Kolkata Knight Riders in exchange for Aman Khan.
He went unsold in the 2025 IPL mega auction, and agreed to join Essex for the 2025 County Championship.
On 23 March 2025, Thakur was announced as the replacement for the injured Mohsin Khan by the Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2025.He signed a reserve contract of ₹2 crore.
Thakur was traded from Lucknow to the Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2026 season.
Personal Life
In November 2021, Thakur got engaged to Mittali Parulkar.The pair married on February 27, 2023.
Fun and Interesting Facts
Shardul Thakur is famously called “Lord Thakur” on social media a nickname that started as a joke but stuck because of his knack for delivering in crucial moments.
In his early days, he traveled nearly 80–100 km from Palghar to Mumbai for training showing incredible dedication from a young age.
Though known for his bowling, Thakur has played several match-changing innings with the bat, proving himself as a handy all-rounder.
Early in his career, he was told to improve his fitness and lose weight. He worked hard on it and transformed himself into an international-level athlete.
He gained major recognition for his performances in overseas Test matches, especially when he stepped up under pressure with both bat and ball.
Thakur is known for breaking partnerships at key moments often when the team needs it the most.
Records
Shardul Thakur scored one of the fastest Test fifties by an Indian during the 2021 tour of England at The Oval, reaching his half-century in just 31 balls.
In the same match at The Oval, he scored two crucial half-centuries becoming one of the few Indian bowlers to achieve this feat in a single Test.
During India’s historic win at The Gabba in 2021, Thakur played a key role with both bat and ball, contributing significantly to one of India’s greatest Test victories.
He has taken a five-wicket haul in Test matches, showcasing his ability to dominate with the ball at the highest level.
Thakur has been part of several important overseas victories, especially in challenging conditions like England and Australia.
Representing Mumbai in domestic cricket, Thakur has consistently performed in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, contributing to the team’s success.
In the Indian Premier League, he has been part of title-winning squads and is valued for his ability to take wickets in pressure situations.