Hardik Pandya Reveals Special Chat With Shardul Thakur After Match-Winning Spell Vs KKR

Hardik Pandya with Rohit Sharma [Source: AFP]

Mumbai Indians made light work of KKR in their high-scoring thriller at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium to start off their IPL 2026 campaign on a comprehensive note. After the match, winning captain Hardik Pandya struck an unusually definitive tone while reflecting on a certain standout performance.

As he elaborated about his teammate, who also happens to be Mumbai Indians’ new recruit this season, it became evident that Pandya’s message went deeper than a one-off display.

Pandya urges journeyman Shardul Thakur to remain at MI

While speaking in the post-match presentation ceremony in Mumbai on Sunday, March 29; Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya praised fellow senior all-rounder Shardul Thakur. 

Pandya even claimed that he recently told Thakur to remain at the Mumbai Indians franchise for the remaining of his IPL career, thus underlining a strong assurance of long-term backing within the setup.

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The captain said “I told him this season, I said, ‘enough hopping of the franchises. I want you to be here for the rest of your career.’ He is a character. He has a big heart. The way he comes out and kind of always tries to outsmart a batter is simply brilliant and really happy for him.”

It is worth noting that while the match against KKR marked Shardul Thakur’s debut for the Mumbai Indians, it still carried the feel of a homecoming of sorts. For starters, Thakur already plays for Mumbai in Indian domestic cricket, and even serves the team as its captain across all formats.

Moreover, the 34-year-old spent three seasons between 2010 and 2012 with the Mumbai Indians as their net bowler.

Shardul Thakur’s IPL journey to Mumbai Indians

Compatible to the post-match comments of captain Hardik Pandya, Shardul Thakur has turned up for seven different franchises in his decade-long IPL career already. He made his IPL debut back in 2015 for the Punjab Kings. 

He also spent one season with the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants in 2017. Thakur was subsequently roped in by the CSK, where he spent his next four IPL seasons.

From 2022 till 2025, the cricketer served Delhi Capitals, KKR, returned to CSK again and joined LSG; before getting traded in by the Mumbai Indians prior to the IPL 2026 auction late last year. To date, he has played 106 IPL games, picking up 110 wickets in the process at an average of 29.84.

Thakur, openers win it for Mumbai Indians

In a game that aggregated nearly 450 runs, Shardul Thakur struck the decisive blow with sensational figures of 3-39 from his four overs. The fast bowler picked up the important wickets of Finn Allen, Cameron Green and Ajinkya Rahane, but lack of assistance from the other end allowed the KKR to mount 220-4 from 20 overs upfront.

In response, Mumbai Indians openers Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma got their side off to a flier with a colossal 148-run stand in less than 12 overs. While Rickelton belted 81 off just 43 balls, Rohit launched six fours and six huge sixes in his electrifying 38-ball 78.

Captain Hardik Pandya (18* off 11) and Naman Dhir notched up the winning runs together for the Mumbai Indians with six wickets and five balls to spare.

Capping off a memorable outing, Shardul Thakur was deservedly named Player of the Match since his match-defining spell stood tall in what turned out to be a pulsating run-fest.

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