India all-rounder Shardul Thakur will play seven matches for County team Essex in Division One from the start of the 2025 season, the club announced on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Thakur, who has to this point played 11 Tests, 47 ODIs and 25 T20Is over the past eight years, might be playing within the English country circuit for the primary time. Thakur has been in wealthy form each with the bat and the ball, having scored 51 and 119 for his second First-Class century last month against Jammu and Kashmir, followed by a brisk 84 against Meghalaya within the Ranji Trophy group stage.
Thakur also claimed a hat-trick within the match against Meghalaya, in a bid to prove his form and fitness for a national team comeback, together with his last appearance being on the 2023 ODI World Cup.
“I’m feeling excited to affix Essex this summer. Personally it brings latest challenges and opportunities to showcase my talent and skills. County cricket is something I at all times desired to experience and I’m glad that I will be representing the Eagles,” Thakur was quoted as saying by Essex on their website.
Essex’s director of cricket and former England and Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood said, “We were very clear amongst ourselves that a prime quality quick bowler, with lower-order batting ability, was a key goal for the Club this winter.
“In Shardul, we’ve got signed just that, and we will not wait to welcome him to Essex and see how he gets on within the County Championship,” he added.
Thakur, who was not picked by any of the Indian Premier League teams within the mega auction ahead of the 2025 season, would thus get ample game-time and exposure to conditions in England to prove his form and fitness ahead of India’s tour of England in June for five Tests.
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