Ranji Trophy 2024: Mumbai await NCA’s ‘return to play’ clearance for Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur (Image source: twitter)

India’s versatile all-rounder Shardul Thakur has faced setbacks due to an ankle injury sustained during the South Africa tour, which has sidelined him from both national and domestic fixtures. Thakur’s absence from the ongoing Tests against England and the Ranji Trophy season for Mumbai has been notable. Mumbai, eager to include him in their lineup against Kerala and Bengal, have faced hurdles as Thakur awaits clearance from the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Despite Mumbai’s hopes, the NCA’s Return to Play (RTP) clearance remained pending. Thakur’s omission from the squad after the Centurion defeat against South Africa in December 2023 opened doors for Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna. Mumbai’s aspirations to have Thakur back in action have been stymied by the ongoing clearance process, underscoring the challenges of player rehabilitation and regulatory protocols in contemporary cricketing scenarios.

“Shardul Thakur had some issue in his ankle and he was advised two-week rest by the National Cricket Academy. He was in Bengaluru for further assessment and future course of action and is likely to be available for selection soon,” Mumbai chief selector Raju Kulkarni said as quoted by News18.

“We are still waiting for NCA’s Return to Play (RTP) report on Shardul Thakur. We need to follow the procedure and the moment the report comes, we will have clearance to pick him up for the Ranji Trophy. For now, we have made the necessary provisions and will pick him up only when the report comes from the NCA. We are hopeful to get the RTP before our sixth-round game,” he added.

Shardul Thakur braces for all-important IPL ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

Following his last appearance for Mumbai post the 2023 ODI World Cup, the right-arm pacer participated in a couple of Vijay Hazare Trophy matches against Saurashtra and Tripura. Recently, he was signed by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 4 crore during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. His performance in the IPL will be pivotal in determining his prospects for securing a place in Team India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad. His journey back to competitive cricket and IPL stint will be closely watched by selectors.