Shardul Thakur’s 31 Test wickets have come at 28.38 apiece, the fourth-best among Indian fast bowlers with as many wickets. His strike rate of 47 has been bettered by only Jasprit Bumrah.

Thakur has also made 631 runs with four fifties, but only one of his 11 Test matches – his first, against the West Indies at Hyderabad in 2018/19 – was at home. There, he had hobbled off after bowling 10 balls.

The first two Tests of India’s five-match home series made it clear that India’s second fast bowler would not get enough bowling, and it may not be a bad idea to switch him for a seamer who can bat. Thakur fits that role, but has not been called up to the squad as of yet.

He returned to Ranji Trophy, where he made 11 and 31 against Chhattisgarh but went wicketless. However, he came to his element in his second match, against Assam, where he shared new ball with Mohit Avasthi.

Thakur got his first wicket of the season when Parvej Musaraf chopped one on to the stumps. He then got one to leave wicketkeeper Sumit Ghadigaonkar, who edged it to wicketkeeper Hardik Tamore; and caught Dinesh Das off his own bowling.

He returned to mop up the tail. Kunal Sharma played an expansive drive to Prithvi Shaw in the slip cordon; Sunil Lachit was trapped leg-before; and Dibakar Johri was clean bowled when he missed a wild slog.

Assam made 84, their lowest total against Mumbai. Thakur finished with 6-21, his best figures in the Ranji Trophy. He improved on his 6-31 against Bengal in the 2016/17 edition.

At the time of writing, Mumbai were 164-5 with Shivam Dube (63) and Shams Mulani (20) at the crease.

Watch Shardul Thakur claim 6-21 against Assam in the Ranji Trophy:

Shardul Special 🔥

10.1-0-21-6⃣@imShard bowled a fabulous spell of 6⃣/2⃣1⃣ to help Mumbai bowl Assam out for 84 in the first innings in Mumbai.

Relive his brilliant spell 🔽@IDFCFIRSTBank | #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/Qwrxs2kYkH

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 16, 2024