India all-rounder Shardul Thakur secured a contract with Chennai Super Kings for Rs 4 crore during the IPL 2024 auction held in Dubai on Tuesday. Thakur, a two-time IPL winner with the Chennai Super Kings in 2018 and 2021, returned to the franchise after last playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. In the previous year’s auction, Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for Rs. 10.75 crore.
During the 2023 IPL season, Shardul Thakur represented Kolkata Knight Riders in 11 games. He contributed both with the bat and the ball, scoring 113 runs and taking seven wickets. Thakur’s return to the Chennai Super Kings marks a reunion with the team where he had previously enjoyed success, and his all-round skills add depth to the squad as the franchise aims for a strong performance in the upcoming IPL season.
Back to Back winning bids for @ChennaiIPL!
Shardul Thakur returns to #CSK 💛 for INR 4 Crore 💰 #IPLAuction | #IPL
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 19, 2023
In addition to representing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Shardul Thakur has also played for Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the course of his IPL career, spanning 86 appearances, Thakur has showcased his all-round abilities. He has scored a total of 286 runs and has been successful with the ball, scalping 89 wickets at an average of 28.76.
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings found themselves in a bidding battle for Shardul Thakur during the IPL 2024 auction. Thakur had set a base price of Rs. two crore. After an intense bidding war, the defending IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings, succeeded in securing Thakur back into their squad.
Despite a somewhat disappointing performance in the 2023 IPL campaign, Shardul Thakur showcased his batting prowess with a career-best score of 68 off 29 balls in a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. This innings highlighted Thakur’s capability to make impactful contributions with the bat, and his all-round skills make him a valuable asset for his team in the IPL.