Thu Jan 30 13:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Shardul Thakur’s Stellar Ranji Performance Fuels India Recall Speculation
**Mumbai, India** – Shardul Thakur is making a compelling case for his return to the Indian national cricket team with a series of dominant performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. His recent exploits include a century against Jammu and Kashmir and a sensational hat-trick against Meghalaya, leaving selectors with a difficult decision.
Thakur’s hat-trick, his first in first-class cricket, came in just 3.1 overs, decimating Meghalaya’s batting line-up. He dismissed Anirudh, Sumit Kumar, and Jaskeerat Singh in consecutive balls in the second over. This stunning bowling performance follows his impressive double-century against Jammu and Kashmir, where he scored 119 runs in the second innings and also claimed two wickets.
Thakur’s resurgence comes after a period outside the national team, following India’s tour of South Africa in December 2023. He was notably absent from the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. His exclusion prompted speculation, which he appears to be directly addressing with his recent string of exceptional displays.
With a strong record in international cricket – 31 Test wickets and 331 runs, along with numerous wickets and runs in ODIs and T20 Internationals, and 94 IPL wickets – Thakur’s consistent performance in the Ranji Trophy is forcing selectors to consider his inclusion for the upcoming five-Test series against England in June 2025. His all-round ability, proven time and again, continues to make him a valuable asset, and his current form strongly suggests that he should be a serious contender for a spot in the national team.
First Piper 