India all-rounder ruled out of cricket after undergoing surgery in London

Team India's all-rounder, Shardul Thakur, successfully underwent foot surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be sidelined from competitive cricket for at least three months.

The 32-year-old shared a post-surgery photo on his Instagram page with the caption: “Operated successfully.” This marks Shardul Thakur's second foot surgery, following a similar procedure in 2019.

Shardul Thakur's injury resurfaced during the South Africa tour earlier this year. Despite this setback, he made a strong comeback in the Ranji Trophy last season, contributing to Mumbai's 42nd title win. He had also requested the BCCI for longer breaks between matches to ensure adequate recovery and preparation time for players.

Shardul Thakur was part of the Indian team that won the 2023 Asia Cup. He was also a member of the Indian team that reached the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shardul played three matches in the tournament, all against sub-continent teams. Shardul's last international outing was against South Africa in the Boxing Day Test match last year.  

Shardul Thakur in IPL 2024

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season, playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he managed only five wickets in nine outings at an economy of 9.75.

Since Thakur is a Grade C annual contract holder of the BCCI, the expenses for his treatment were paid by the board.

As far as his comeback is concerned, while there is no official word, sources in the know of things feels that it will take around three months to get back to training.

Therefore, chances are he could be back before or right on time for the upcoming domestic season. 

(With PTI inputs)