It been a year to forget for Shardul Thakur, once a mainstay in the Indian team. The all-rounder, who had been an automatic pick in the playing XI, has seen his fortunes plummet over the past few months due to a mix of injuries and poor form. His struggles continued in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) as he registered an embarrassing record, conceding the most runs in a four-over spell in the history of the domestic T20 tournament.
Historic Record for the Wrong Reasons
Playing for Mumbai against Kerala at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Thakur gave away 69 runs in his four overs, setting a new record for the most runs conceded by a bowler in an innings in SMAT history. This record tied with Ramesh Rahul of Arunachal Pradesh, who had previously conceded 69 runs just four days ago in a match against Haryana.
Thakur, who started off well by dismissing Sanju Samson in the very first over, saw his fortunes take a dramatic turn. Mumbai struggled throughout the innings, conceding 234 runs in 20 overs. Kerala Salman Nizar was the star of the show, smashing an unbeaten 99 off just 49 balls, while Thakur was hit for five fours and six sixes in his spell. His economy rate stood at a shocking 17.25 at the end of his four overs.
A Miserable Day for Thakur and Mumbai
The woes didn’t end for Thakur as he failed to make a significant impact with the bat either, scoring just three runs before being dismissed by Nidheesh MD. Mumbai’s chase was largely carried by Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a blistering 68 off 35 balls, but despite his efforts, Mumbai fell short by 43 runs.
This T20 season has been difficult for Thakur, who has only managed four wickets in three matches, conceding a total of 162 runs in just 12 overs at an alarming economy rate of 13.5. Mumbai, who had won their first two matches with ease, suffered their first defeat of the tournament. They currently sit third in the Group E points table with 8 points.
Shardul Thakur’s tough year shows no signs of ending soon, with both his bowling and batting performance being well below his usual standards. For a player who once seemed destined for greater heights, this has been a period of frustrating setbacks.