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The fast-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur has not played in white-ball cricket for the past two years, but his final appearance in Indian colours was during the five-Test match series of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England. In the ODI World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh in Pune, Shardul made his final appearance for India in the white ball format. He took a wicket but was unable to bat as the team captained by Rohit Sharma won by seven wickets. Despite a long break from white ball cricket, Shardul is hopeful of returning to the limited-overs side, leading up to the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, with some consistent performances in the domestic circuit. "What is important for me is to keep playing matches and perform. Eventually, to get back to the Indian team, I also need to keep having those match-winning performances, which will eventually help in selection," Shardul said as quoted by Sports Tak. With some steady performances on the domestic circuit, Shardul hopes to rejoin the limited-overs team ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, despite a lengthy hiatus from white ball cricket. Despite taking three wickets in the first two games and scoring 38 runs in three innings, Shardul, who is leading Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season, was unable to have a spectacular start. The veteran is optimistic that everything will work out and he would be able to secure a spot in India's ODI squad as an all-rounder. "The ODI World Cup is in South Africa, so there might be an opening for a bowling all-rounder at No. 8, so I am eyeing that spot,” he said, adding: “In terms of preparation, I am in such a position that tomorrow if I am asked to play international cricket, I am ready.” Mumbai's most recent Ranji match ended in a tie with Chhattisgarh. Rajasthan will now play Mumbai in Jaipur, with play beginning on November 1. Interestingly, Yashasvi Jaiswal will play in the impending match as well.
