The feeling of being left out is hurting me: Shardul Thakur
May 9, 2016 at 10:42 PM
Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur, who expressed his frustration publicly on twitter after his franchise Kings XI Punjab released him midway through the current season, has finally spoken about the incident. The pacer, who was Mumbai’s highest wicket-taker during their Ranji Trophy win in the 2015-16 season, was bought by KXIP ahead of the 2014 season and played only one match for the team in 2015, and even after being retained for 2016
edition, he has failed to get a chance to play.
Thakur said that he was not upset about missing out on a place in the XI, and felt the franchise should have retained him to allow him to learn from the more experienced players in the squad.
“It is obviously disappointing. I was really looking forward to doing well in the IPL,” Thakur told Mid-Day. “It is frustrating because if you ask anyone in the squad, I was working as hard as anyone else in the training sessions.
“It could be because of the team combination. But just being there in that group is a great learning experience. It was surely not a waste of time. We have a good coaching staff and great team management as well. It is the feeling of being left out which is hurting me.
“To bowl to different quality batsmen in the nets is, in itself, a tremendous learning experience. You learn a lot about your game. I feel they should have kept me [with the team].”
Along with Thakur KXIP also released batsman Armaan Jaffer and allrounder Pardeep Sahu. Like Thakur, Jaffer too did not get a chance in the playing XI,but Sahu played five matches, taking three wickets with his leg spin at an economy rate of 8.34.
According to reports, Delhi Daredevils too, released a few players, including Mumbai batsman Akhil Herwadkar.
The Mumbai batsman, who did not play a game for Daredevils, said that the franchise had told the players they would be called back in a few days.
“We were not given a reason but were told that we will be called back in a few days. I am expecting a call. This is just a few days’ break,” Herwadkar told.