Last Updated:March 29, 2026, 21:09 IST
Shardul Thakur shone bright on his Mumbai Indians debut, picking up 3 key wickets to halt KKR’s charge.
Shardul Thakur was shining bright with the ball on his IPL 2026 debut for the Mumbai Indians (Credit: AP)
Sometimes, you don’t need a perfect spell; you just need the right moments. And on debut for the Mumbai Indians, ‘Lord’ Shardul Thakur picked exactly those moments.
Thakur registered a blistering spell of 3/39 on Sunday, helping his side stop the bleeding when it was needed the most.
How The Innings Unfolded
Hardik Pandya called it right at the toss at Wankhede Stadium, opting to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders.
KKR came out flying — with Ajinkya Rahane timing it sweetly, as they raced to 78/1 in the powerplay, looking set for a big total.
Then came Thakur.
Finn Allen tried to go big, but only managed to pick out Tilak Varma in the deep.
Next, when Cameron Green looked set, Thakur tempted him with a wide short ball. Result? Another mistimed hit, another catch.
The real breakthrough, though, was Rahane.
With pressure building, Pandya went back to Thakur. And once again, he delivered. Rahane tried to go inside-out, sliced it, and found Pandya at cover.
KKR, cruising at one stage, were now 150/3 in 14 overs, forced to rebuild again.
Fans across social media, as expected, couldn’t help but gush over Thakur’s exploits.
“Back to Back Wickets 🔥🔥Shardul Thakur has a golden hand today”#MIvsKKR— Chalz (@itischalz) March 29, 2026
Last year shardul thakur picked 6 wickets in the first two matches of ipl.This year he has started with 3 in the first match in just 3 overs🔥Lord for a reason🛐 pic.twitter.com/PuNk9NpWyr— Local Athletes (@L0calAthletes) March 29, 2026
You called it, and Shardul Thakur has delivered. Nights like this are exactly why captains trust him with the ball when it really matters.— Swagat (@0xM0rtal) March 29, 2026
LORD Shardul Thakur SHOWING HIS MAGIC! 🔥🔥Removes Finn Allen
Sends back Cameron Green
And now gets the big one — Ajinkya Rahane
What a spell this is turning out to be! 💥Absolute game-changer for Mumbai Indians — Lord Thakur delivering when it matters the most.#MIVsKKR pic.twitter.com/qXqGjKPEG9
— Abhisek Gupta (@ABHISTRONG) March 29, 2026
Not the first time Shardul Thakur has delivered when MI needed him the most.🌚💙— Sanjay Kalita (@SanjayK63241012) March 29, 2026
Thakur has built a reputation for breaking partnerships rather than dominating spells, and this was exactly that.
First Published:
March 29, 2026, 21:09 IST
News cricket ‘Lord For A Reason’: Netizens Laud MI’s Shardul Thakur After Fiery Spell On IPL 2026 DebutDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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