Frustrated due to lack of opportunities, KXIP player Shardul Thakur mocks IPL

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) got a reality check on Wednesday when a promising young cricketer criticised it for keeping him away from active cricket. The IPL is often regarded as the best place for young cricketers to showcase their talent to the world but Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur spent the entire season on the bench. The 25-year-old Thakur, who impressed one and all with 41 wickets in the Ranji Trophy season, is a part of Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) squad. Despite the KXIP not performing well this season, Thakur didn’t get a single opportunity to play. KXIP are languishing at the bottom of the points table at the moment and have won just 2 matches. KXIP bought Thakur ahead of the 2014 season but the pacer played his first, and only, match for the team in 2015. Even after being retained for the 2016 edition, he continues to warm the bench. Now, midway into the season, KXIP have decided to release three players, including Thakur (Pradeep Sahu and Armaan Jaffer are the other two), for the rest of the season. Frustrated by the lack of opportunity, Thakur vent his anger on Twitter. Thakur later deleted the tweet from his handle. The 25-year-old Mumbai pacer played a crucial role in Mumbai’s 41st Ranji Trophy triumph as he picked up 41 wickets at an average of 24.51. Picking up eight wickets in the final against Saurashtra, Thakur finished as the sixth highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Shardul has been one of the most consistent bowlers for Mumbai in the last three Ranji seasons. In the 2014-15 season, Shardul was the joint highest wicket-taker with 48 scalps at 20.81.