Shardul Thakur, fondly known as Lord Shardul, might just be gearing up for a Test comeback — and what a dramatic return it could be. The last time he donned the whites for India was back in December 2023, but all signs now point to a possible return for the 1st Test against England starting June 20 in Leeds.
And he’s not just knocking on the door — he’s kicked it wide open.
In a recent intra-squad match held behind closed doors, Shardul didn't just look in rhythm — he was in beast mode. With the ball, he did enough to turn heads. But with the bat, he stole the entire show, slamming an unbeaten 122 on the final day of the match. This wasn’t a net practice knock — this was full-blown domination against a bowling line-up featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh.
Yes, that bowling line-up.
It was the kind of performance that reminded everyone why Thakur is considered a wildcard genius in Test cricket. He was the second India A player to hit a century in that match after Sarfaraz Khan, before the game was called off midway through Day Three by team management.
What makes this even more impressive is the context. Shardul wasn’t picked for India’s recent tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy — a series India ended up losing miserably. But now, his fiery hundred has put him right back into the mix, possibly ahead of fellow pace all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for that all-important Leeds clash.
When the ball swings, Lord swings harder. When pressure rises, he delivers with swagger. It’s this unpredictability that makes him so valuable — a man who turns cricket fields into theatres of the unexpected.
England, consider this your warning: Shardul 2.0 may be on his way, and the sequel could be just as blockbuster as the original.
