India allrounder Shardul Thakur has signed with Essex for the opening block of the County Championship, making his debut in county cricket. Thakur, 33, will play in seven fixtures during April and May after going unsold in the IPL auction. He has over 100 international wickets and contributed significantly to Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy campaign with over 400 runs and 34 wickets. Thakur expressed excitement about the new challenge and opportunity. Essex’s director of cricket, Chris Silverwood, praised Thakur as a high-quality quick bowler with batting ability, emphasizing the club’s ambition for the upcoming season.
This will mark Thakur’s debut in county cricket, having remained unsold during the IPL auction held in November. Throughout his international career, he has claimed over 100 wickets in all three formats, with his most recent game being during the 2023-24 tour in South Africa.
“I’m excited to join Essex this summer,” Thakur expressed. “This presents new challenges and an opportunity to showcase my skills and talent. I’ve always wanted to experience county cricket, and I’m delighted to be representing the Eagles.”
Thakur joins a notable group of Indian international players who have recently taken part in County Championship matches at Chelmsford, following Umesh Yadav, Murali Vijay, and current Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir.
The allrounder will team up with fellow overseas bowler Simon Harmer, as Essex aims to kick off strong in their pursuit of their first Championship title since 2019, beginning with a home game against the current champions, Surrey, in the opening round.
“With Shardul on board, we have exactly that, and we’re looking forward to welcoming him to Essex and witnessing his contributions in the County Championship.”