There has always been something slightly unusual about Shardul Thakur as a bowler. He does not fit neatly into categories. He is not express pace, not a classical swing bowler, and not someone who relies on heavy variations either. And yet, he keeps finding ways to pick up wickets.
Maybe that is why the “Lord” tag has followed him around for so long. Not because there is a clear explanation, but because there often isn’t one.
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On a night where the Mumbai Indians were looking to get their season off to a strong start, Thakur delivered a performance that felt very much in line with that reputation. It was not textbook, but it came at the right moments.
Playing for his home franchise at the Wankhede Stadium, this was a significant outing. It is a ground he has spoken about with mixed emotions. Back in 2012, he was here as a net bowler. More than a decade later, he walked out in MI colours and finished as Player of the Match.
BREAKING THE FLOW
What stood out most was how he was used.
Unlike most T20 bowlers who operate in fixed roles, Thakur was moved around. One over in the powerplay, two in the middle overs in separate spells, and one at the death. Different phases, different demands.
He responded by striking in each of his first three overs, and each wicket came at an important moment.The first was Finn Allen in the powerplay. Allen is known for taking the game on early, and removing him helped slow things down.
Then came Ajinkya Rahane, who had just reached his fifty and was beginning to shift gears. The wicket came soon after the strategic time-out, just when KKR would have been looking to push on.
The third was Cameron Green, who had settled in and looked set for a strong finish.Each time, the pattern was similar. Just when the innings seemed to be building, Thakur broke the stand.
FROM SUPPORT TO STRIKE OPTION
He always had the wicket-taking ability, and there were signs of it last season with Lucknow Super Giants, where he picked up six wickets in his first two matches and was trusted with the new ball. What has changed now is the clarity in how he is being used.
He is no longer just filling overs. He is being used as a wicket-taking option.
There is also the context of the move itself.
After a season with Lucknow Super Giants, Thakur’s switch to the Mumbai Indians brought him back home, but also into a setup that seemed clear about how they wanted to use him.
That clarity was evident not just in his role, but also in the backing he spoke about after the game.
“The kind of backing that I had coming here was amazing. Thanks to the entire MI family for trading me from LSG and straightaway getting me in the XI,” he said.
There was also a lighter moment when he spoke about settling in.
“I would be very happy if I stay here. It is my home city,” he added, hinting at a conversation with Hardik Pandya about staying on for the long run.
THE MOMENT BEHIND THE CHAOS
His own explanation of his bowling has always been refreshingly simple. In an old interview, he once said, “I just hold it and bowl it what happens after pitching, I don’t know.” It sounds casual, but there is a point behind it.
Thakur does not rely on one method. He mixes seam positions, changes pace subtly and is willing to try things depending on the situation. It may not always look controlled, but it creates enough doubt for batters.
That approach showed again here. Some deliveries sat up, some held back, some came on quicker. There was no clear pattern to line up.A different kind of partnershipAfter the game, he spoke about enjoying these situations. “Challenges are what have made me what I am today,” he said, referring to being brought on in tricky phases like the sixth over.
There is also a larger context to consider.
With Jasprit Bumrah leading the attack, Mumbai already had one of the most reliable bowlers in the league. Bumrah’s role is well defined. He controls the innings, especially at the death.
What Thakur adds is a different kind of threat.
He gives them wickets in phases where teams usually look to consolidate. That changes how oppositions approach the innings. It is no longer about just seeing off Bumrah. There is another bowler who can break partnerships.
WHAT IT MEANS GOING FORWARD
That combination could be important over the course of the season.For opposition teams, it complicates planning. Taking risks against Thakur comes with its own danger. Playing him conservatively allows Mumbai to keep control.
It is early days, but this performance showed how that balance could work.
There is also a lighter side to how Thakur is viewed. The “Lord” nickname continues to follow him, and he takes it in good spirit. “I don’t mind it that is how people show love,” he said after the match.
That sums up his place in the game. He is not always predictable, and not always conventional, but he finds ways to contribute.On this occasion, it came together neatly. The conditions offered a bit, the match-ups worked in his favour, and he delivered at the right moments.
For Mumbai, it is a promising sign. For Thakur, it is another reminder that his style, even if hard to define, remains effective.And for everyone watching, it was another example of how he tends to influence games in his own way.
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