Shardul Thakur’s Ranji Century – Following his remarkable match-saving century for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu, Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur made a significant statement. Mumbai, leading by 207 after day 2, concluded at 353/9, propelled by Shardul’s outstanding innings.
Thakur’s pointed remarks were prompted by the recent release of the BCCI’s updated list of centrally contracted players. He finds himself in Grade C alongside 14 other Indian teammates, as the BCCI unveiled the revised contract list on February 28.
After his spectacular performance that kept Mumbai alive in the semi-final, Thakur indirectly criticized the BCCI. He emphasized the need for an increased number of breaks between Ranji Trophy games to ensure the players’ physical well-being.
“It’s challenging because we are participating in First-Class matches with three-day intervals, which is unprecedented. In my initial years in Ranji Trophy, the first three games had a three-day break, followed by a four-day break, and knockouts had a five-day gap. Now, we observe all matches being scheduled with just a three-day interval. It becomes extremely demanding for domestic players to play 10 consecutive games with such a narrow gap, especially if the team reaches the final,” expressed Thakur during his interaction with reporters on Sunday, as reported by TOI. # Shardul Thakur’s Ranji Century
“I believe they need to reconsider and incorporate more breaks in the schedule for the next year’s Ranji Trophy. The current schedule is getting increasingly tight. If players continue to perform at this intensity for two more seasons, there’s a high risk of numerous injuries across the country,” emphasized Thakur.
The BCCI has enforced a mandate that players not involved in international cricket must participate in domestic cricket to be eligible for national selection. Essentially, the BCCI has made it obligatory for players aspiring to play international cricket to engage in red-ball cricket. Notably, this directive led to the exclusion of two key players, Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan, who had been part of the national teams across formats for the past two years. Despite both featuring in the World Cup for India, with Shreyas amassing over 500 runs, including a century in the semi-final against New Zealand, the BCCI made this surprising decision. # Shardul Thakur’s Ranji Century
This recent move by the BCCI has caught cricket experts within the Indian cricket community off guard. Additionally, long-term injury battles for KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, both of whom have been out of the Indian Test team for over a month, add complexity to the situation. Rahul is undergoing treatment for a quad injury in London, while Iyer is contending with a back issue. With the Indian players having a hectic schedule leading up to the T20 World Cup 2024, Shardul Thakur’s concerns should be taken seriously by both the BCCI and the Indian think tank.
Speaking of Shardul Thakur’s on-field performance, he played a crucial role in rescuing Mumbai from a precarious situation when he came to bat at number nine. Scoring 104 off 109 deliveries, he formed a vital 79-run partnership with Tushar Kotian (79*) that helped Mumbai reach a total of 353/9. Notably, this came after the struggles of skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 19 off 67 balls, and the pressure on Shreyas Iyer, who managed just 3 off 8 deliveries. In the second semi-final, Tamil Nadu was bowled out for a mere 146 in their first innings. # Shardul Thakur’s Ranji Century
