Star fast bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who remained unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year, could be seen in action for Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025. The 33-year-old cricketer from Mumbai, who has played for Rising Pune Super Giants, Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders in the cash-rich league so far, was seen training with LSG players ahead of the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League. In several pictures going viral on the internet, the veteran of 95 IPL matches can be seen bowling in the LSG practice sessions. Shardul Thakur ? What's going on !!?#LSG This kind of a post for just a Net bowler, I don't think so… pic.twitter.com/O45agkBcus — Abin (@futbol_cricket) March 15, 2025 Shardul, who has 94 wickets and 307 runs to his name in the IPL, surprisingly failed to find any buyers in the mega auction last year. The cricketer who has played 11 Tests, 47 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Men in Blue since making his international debut in 2017 has been in red-hot form these days. He played a big role with both bat and ball in Mumbai’s run to the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 semifinal, where they eventually lost to champions Vidarbha. Shardul’s superb all-round show in the premier domestic competition has opened doors for his participation in the IPL. LSG is dealing with the fitness-related issues of Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan, and if any one of them misses out, then Shardul can join the team as a replacement player. Shardul was part of the Chennai Super Kings franchise in IPL 2024. He played nine matches for the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side last season but was only able to take five wickets. His best-ever performance in the IPL came during the 2021 season, where, while playing under MS Dhoni’s leadership, he picked up 21 wickets in 16 matches for the franchise and helped them lift the title for the fourth time. After getting ignored by IPL franchises in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year, Shardul signed with English county side Essex last month and will be available for seven matches in Division One from the beginning of the 2025 season.