Social media erupts with ‘Lord Shardul Thakur’ posts after his MOTM performance against SRH for LSG in IPL 2025
Fans have been hailing the 33-year-old’s resilience and determination, celebrating his ability to silence his critics with sheer performance.
Social media has been buzzing with praise for Indian cricketer Shardul Thakur, who has scripted a remarkable turnaround in IPL 2025. After going unsold at the auction, the 33-year-old has now emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, proudly donning the Purple Cap. His latest performance, a stunning four-wicket haul against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), played a crucial role in restricting their formidable batting line-up to under 200 runs. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) then chased the target with ease, sealing victory with five wickets in hand and 23 balls to spare.
From applauding his grit and resilience in making a comeback to hailing his match-winning spell, cricket fans flooded social media with admiration for Shardul. Many lauded his unwavering determination, proving his worth despite being overlooked by franchises at the auction. His efforts not only secured an important win for LSG but also earned him the Man of the Match award, further reinforcing his impact in the tournament.
In the post-match press conference, Shardul dismissed any disappointment over going unsold at the auction, stating that his primary focus was always on performing for his team. He revealed that LSG approached him after injuries affected their squad, and he was keen to make the most of the opportunity. Under the mentorship of Zaheer Khan, he embraced the challenge, acknowledging that setbacks are part and parcel of a cricketer’s journey. Thakur also shared insights into LSG’s strategy, stating that while batsmen have been dominating on flat pitches, their plan was to hit back hard and make life difficult for the opposition.
Opting to bowl first, Shardul gave LSG a dream start by dismissing Abhishek Sharma and last-match centurion Ishan Kishan in consecutive deliveries during the third over. A well-directed short ball sent Abhishek back to the pavilion, while Ishan edged a seemingly harmless delivery down the leg side, handing Shardul his second scalp. The wickets of Abhinav Manohar and Mohammed Shami in the latter half of SRH's innings helped Thakur become the leading wicket taker in the tournament with six wickets in two matches, so far.
Chasing 193, LSG’s batting line-up was powered by explosive innings from Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, who ensured their team’s first win of the season. Their aggressive knocks helped LSG get off the mark on the points table in their IPL 2025 campaign.
