Shardul Thakur enters history books with Ranji Trophy hattrick, Meghalaya’s stunning collapse sets unwanted record

Shardul Thakur became the fifth Mumbai bowler to take a hattrick in the Ranji Trophy on Thursday against Meghalaya at the BKC Ground. It was also the second hattrick in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season after Himachal Pradesh’s Rishi Dhawan against Pondicherry. Shardul Thakur is currently out of India’s scheme of things.  

Shadul Thakur’s hattrick came in the third over of the match as he removed Balchander Anirudh, Sumit Kumar and Jaskirat Singh. Mohit Avasthi dismissed Arpit Bhatewara in the next over as Meghalaya were reduced to 2/6 – the lowest score after the fall of sixth wicket in the history of the Ranji Trophy. 

Meghalaya’s 2/6 is also the second-lowest in the history of first-class cricket after Marylebone Cricket Club’s 0/6 in 8.2 overs against Surrey at Lord’s in 1872, topping the chart. 

Mumbai bowlers with Ranji Trophy hattricks

• Jehangir Behramji Khot (Bombay) vs Baroda – 1943-44
• Umesh Narayan Kulkarni (Bombay) vs Gujarat – 1963-64
• Abdul Moosabhoy Ismail (Bombay) vs Saurashtra – 1973-74
• Royston Harold Dias (Mumbai) vs Bihar – 2023-24
• Shardul Thakur (Mumbai) vs Meghalaya – 2024-25

However, a 38-run stand between Pringsang and Akash Kumar saved Meghalaya the blushes as they were eventually bundled out for 86 runs in 24.3 overs. The lowest total in the history of Ranji Trophy was Hyderabad’s 21 all out against Rajasthan in 2010.

With Meghalaya dismissed for 86 all out, there is a high chance of Mumbai registering a win with a bonus point. Shardul Thakur finished with figures of 4/43, while Mohit Avasthi picked 3/27. Sylvester Dsouza and Shams Mulani took two and one wicket respectively. 

Meanwhile, Mumbai missed Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who were a part of the playing XI in their shocking loss against Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir and Baroda currentky occupy the first two spots in the Group D.