As the league stage of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 reaches its decisive phase, teams are battling to secure their spots in the knockout rounds. Among the title favourites, Mumbai has been a dominant force, and one player making headlines for his all-round brilliance is Shardul Thakur. The seasoned pacer, who had already showcased his batting prowess with a century and a half-century in a losing cause against Jammu and Kashmir, continued his stellar form—this time with the ball.

Facing Meghalaya, a team yet to register a win in the tournament, Mumbai was eager to secure an outright victory. Shardul Thakur, opening the bowling, wasted no time in making an impact. With the new ball in hand, he applied immediate pressure on the Meghalaya batters, rattling their top order and claiming four wickets in a fiery spell.
His relentless accuracy and movement off the pitch left the opposition struggling, and he played a pivotal role in dismantling half the Meghalaya side early in the innings. The highlight of Thakur’s spell came in the third over when he etched his name in the record books by claiming his maiden first-class hat-trick.
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After picking up his first breakthrough in the opening over, he returned to create history, dismissing Balchander Anirudh for a three-ball duck before trapping Sumit Kumar and Jaskirat Singh off successive deliveries. With this feat, Thakur became only the fifth Mumbai bowler to register a Ranji Trophy hat-trick.
🚨 HAT-TRICK FOR SHARDUL THAKUR IN RANJI TROPHY 🚨
– Thakur making a strong case for England tour in June. pic.twitter.com/Q2dcki5ayF
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 30, 2025
The last Mumbai bowler to achieve this milestone was Royston Dias, who accomplished it against Bihar in the 2023-24 season. At the time of writing, Meghalaya’s innings showed little resistance as they were bundled out for a mere 86 runs. Thakur, along with fellow seamers Mohit Avasthi and Sylvester Dsouza, ripped through the batting lineup, ensuring Mumbai took full control of the contest.
Their collective effort highlighted the team’s depth in pace bowling and reinforced Mumbai’s strong position in the competition. Reflecting on Mumbai’s fluctuating season, Thakur emphasized the importance of unity and resilience in the longer format. “Red-ball cricket is an emotional roller coaster.
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A single session can change the course of a game. The key is to remain humble and never take anything or anyone lightly. The message from our coach and captain is clear—we need to stick together and play as a team,” Thakur told *The Indian Express*. With his impactful performance, Shardul Thakur has reaffirmed his credentials as a game-changer, and Mumbai will hope his momentum continues as they push for Ranji Trophy glory.