India’s all-rounder Shardul Thakur made headlines on January 30, 2025, by claiming a remarkable hat-trick during the Ranji Trophy match between Mumbai and Meghalaya at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai.
This performance not only showcased Thakur’s exceptional bowling skills but also marked a significant milestone in his career.
Match Overview
Thakur opened the bowling for Mumbai after they opted to field first against Meghalaya. He wasted no time in making an impact, dismissing Meghalaya opener Nishanta Chakraborty for a duck on just the fourth ball of the innings.
However, it was in his second over that he truly stole the spotlight. In a sensational display, Thakur took three wickets in consecutive deliveries, completing his hat-trick and reducing Meghalaya to a precarious 2 for 6.
The Hat-Trick Details
- First Wicket: Thakur bowled Balchander Anirudh for a duck, breaching his defense with a well-placed delivery that hit the off stump.
- Second Wicket: He followed up by dismissing Sumit Kumar, who also fell for a golden duck, caught by Shams Mulani at third slip.
- Third Wicket: Completing the hat-trick, Thakur clean bowled Jaskirat Singh with another inswinger, leaving him with three ducks in three balls.
This hat-trick made Shardul Thakur the fifth bowler in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy history to achieve this feat, and the first since Royston Dias accomplished it during the 2023-24 season.
The other notable bowlers to have taken hat-tricks for Mumbai include Abdul Moosabhoy Ismail (1973-74), Umesh Narayan Kulkarni (1963-64), and Jehangir Behramji Khot (1943-44).
Performance Statistics
By the end of his spell, Thakur had impressive figures of 4 wickets for just 14 runs, contributing significantly to reducing Meghalaya to 29 for 6 within just 12 overs.
His performance was complemented by teammate Mohit Avasthi, who also claimed two wickets.
This match is crucial for Mumbai as they aim to secure a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament. Currently placed third in Group A, they need to win this match by an innings or ten wickets to earn a bonus point and improve their chances of qualification.
Thakur’s hat-trick comes on the heels of an outstanding performance in his previous Ranji Trophy match, where he scored a remarkable century from the No. 8 position against Jammu and Kashmir.
He scored 51 runs in the first innings and followed it up with a blistering 119 runs in the second innings, showcasing his all-round capabilities.
