Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur has vowed to make a comeback for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
He has openly challenged Gautam Gambhir’s favorite player, Harshit Rana. Shardul says he will stake a claim for the No. 8 position in the Indian team.
He recently got a chance during the England tour, but failed to perform well. Nevertheless, Shardul’s confidence remains undiminished. He believes his all-round abilities can earn him a place in Team India again.
Shardul Thakur Challenges: The No. 8 Position
Shardul recently said in a statement, “I’m eyeing the No. 8 spot for the 2027 World Cup.”
He believes that Gambhir’s strategy prioritizes all-rounders who can perform well with both bat and ball.
Shardul has demonstrated his batting prowess several times in domestic cricket. He has scored 2,697 runs, including two centuries and seventeen half-centuries, particularly in first-class cricket.
He also has 305 wickets to his name. However, his economy rate and reliance on variations in limited-overs cricket could hinder his progress.
Captaincy in Ranji Trophy, but lackluster performance
Shardul had a good start after taking over as captain of the Mumbai Ranji team. His team won against Jammu and Kashmir and drew against Chhattisgarh. However, Shardul’s performance this season has been subpar.
He took only three wickets in four innings and didn’t score a big score with the bat. Nevertheless, his batting in the last Ranji season and Duleep Trophy caught everyone’s attention.
This led to his selection by the Lucknow Super Giants for the IPL and his return to the Indian team.
Shardul will now have to improve his bowling to surpass Harshit Rana, who is being selected for his pace and batting ability.
Shardul is 34 years old, but he continues to work hard in domestic cricket. He has experience scoring half-centuries in Tests and ODIs.
He also has the ability to play big shots lower down the order. If he further improves his bowling, it wouldn’t be surprising if he returns to the 2027 World Cup.
