06 August,2026 09:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh Mayure
Shardul Thakur at his Powai residence recently. Pic/Subodh Mayure
India's pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, 34, is keen to excel in the upcoming domestic season to impress national selectors ahead of India's away Test series against New Zealand in November. Thakur, who has 33 scalps in 13 Tests so far, played his last Test against England, scoring 41 at Manchester in July 2025.
"As long as I play cricket, my goal will always be to play for India. I'm not in the Indian team currently, but I'm definitely preparing to make a comeback. I have no other option but to perform. Given my experience, if I perform well, I feel the selectors or the team management will consider me. I don't need to prove that I can play international cricket well, that's already been done. So, now it's just about how well I perform and how many matches I can help my team win," Thakur told mid-day during an exclusive chat at his residence in Powai recently.
Thakur, who has also played 47 ODIs and 25 T20Is, claiming 65 and 33 wickets respectively, insists that the upcoming domestic season, starting with the Duleep Trophy on August 23 in Bengaluru, is crucial for him. He will be representing the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led West Zone team.
"Our [2026-27] season begins with the Duleep Trophy. Since it's a knockout game, I can't say how many chances I'll get, but even if I get one match, I'll try to give more than my 100 per cent. Then, there are some other important domestic invitational tournaments in September, followed by the Ranji Trophy. So, all upcoming matches are important. I'll have to play these matches with a get-set-go attitude because the Indian team touring New Zealand in November will need an all-rounder at the No. 8 position. I want to explore that opportunity, so a strong, positive attitude is important for all upcoming games," Thakur said.
The Thakur-led Mumbai team lost to Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final last season, and the attacking all-rounder said a complete team effort will be needed to emerge triumphant again.
"Winning Ranji Trophy is in everyone's hands - players, coaches, trainers, physios, doctors, team managers, those outside the playing XI and also our MCA [Mumbai Cricket Association] management. Everyone's contribution is important. Only then can you win a championship. I entered the Mumbai team [in 2012] and against all odds, cemented my place. As a senior player, my job is to share my experiences with the players, and I do that, whether or not I'm the captain. As captain, of course, I want to lift the Ranji Trophy, but before that, I must think about how I can help my bowlers pick up five-wicket hauls," Thakur explained.
[popcorn number="Two" desc="No. of first-class centuries scored by Shardul Thakur" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="7-61" desc="Shardul Thakur's career-best bowling figures across all formats; he registered them during the second Test against SA in Johannesburg in 2022" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="131" desc="Total international wickets claimed by Thakur in 85 matches; he has also scored 775 runs" class="Default"]
[popcorn number="2818" desc="No. of runs scored by Thakur in 103 first-class matches, apart from claiming 315 wickets" class="Default"]
