Shardul Thakur sent out a strong message to Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and selectors by claiming his maiden First-Class hat-trick on Day 1 of the Ranji match Between Mumbai and Meghalaya to bat first at Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Mumbai. This is a must-win match for Mumbai, who are on the verge of being knocked out of this year's competition.
Thakur picked up a hat-trick in the third over, dismissing B Anirudh, Sumit Kumar, and Jaskirat on consecutive deliveries. All three players departed without scoring a single run. The pacer also managed to dismiss Meghalaya's opener Nishanta Chakravarty, taking his tally to 4 wickets in the match. The hat trick saw Thakur becoming only the fifth bowler from Mumbai to record a hat-trick in the history of the competition.
In the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign, Shardul ha picked up 20 wickets. This four wicket haul against Railways was his second for this season. In addition, he has also scored 297 runs, including a century and two half-centuries (seven matches).
Mumbai fighting to keep Ranji season alive
Currently third in Group A, Mumbai need an innings or 10-wicket win in the ongoing match to secure a bonus point. Meanwhile, this would put them level with J&K at 29 points, with Baroda just behind at 27 points.
To keep their knockout hopes alive, Mumbai would be hoping that either J&K or Baroda do not get more than a point from their final-round clash in Vadodara. Meghalaya have been bowled out for 86 runs
