Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur’s return to the Mumbai Indians has brought a sense of familiarity and renewed purpose, and the all-rounder credits Rohit Sharma with shaping that comfort early in his career. Traded from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore ahead of IPL 2026, Thakur believes reuniting with Rohit will help him rediscover the freedom and clarity that defined his formative years in competitive cricket.
Thakur told the Mumbai Indians website that Rohit was instrumental in allowing him to express himself during the early stages of his journey. The fast bowler also shared that their bond grew naturally, which gave him the confidence to play without fear or hesitation.
“He (Rohit Sharma) made me comfortable, allowed me to be free with him, allowed me to express myself. We hit it off together and he played a major role in that,” Shardul said.
“I was fortunate enough to experience the dressing room early in my days. I was already comfortable in front of the senior players. Somewhere down the line, regardless of how Mumbai Indians treated me during the camp, this small gesture from Mumbai Indians helped me grow a lot in my career,” he added.
His association with MI dates back to 2010 when he joined as a young support bowler. Thakur said early exposure to a championship-level environment helped him grow up quickly. He played practice games, interacted with senior players and gained invaluable confidence.
“I already felt comfortable in front of the senior players. That small gesture from Mumbai Indians helped me grow a lot,” he said.
Thakur credits coaches Rahul Sanghvi and Paras Mhambrey for mentoring him on a daily basis while sharing space with icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Andrew Symonds, Munaf Patel and Rohit Sharma who left a lasting impact. The memory of him peering into the Wankhede Stadium from a passing train to catch a glimpse of Tendulkar remains one of his most nostalgic stories.
After going unsold in the 2025 mega auction, Thakur revived his IPL journey with LSG before being traded to MI-his third career. Despite a mixed season in 2025, he arrives with 107 IPL wickets and two championship medals and hopes that a return to Mumbai and the presence of Rohit will rekindle his best self.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
December 9, 2025
