KKR vs GT, IPL 2023: All-rounder Shardul Thakur's injury update

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Shardul Thakur is likely to make his way back into the set-up ahead of the forthcoming clash against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, April 29. The pacer was out due to a niggle that had put him on the sidelines.

Shardul last donned the Kolkata outfit in the match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on April 16. The pacer claimed one wicket for 25 runs in his two overs and scored 13 runs with the bat. KKR lost the high-octane clash by five wickets. Since then, the 31-year-old has been confined to the sidelines, and many speculated that he was dropped owing to his poor form. 

However, as per a report by Cricbuzz, the pacer has recovered from a niggle he endured and is sweating it out in the net sessions ahead of the upcoming match. In addition to this, Shardul bowled an extended spell and batted for quite a while prior to the match against RCB on April 26. 

Considering that he is set to make his comeback in the XI, Shardul is likely to replace Vaibhav Arora, who made his debut against Bangalore. Notably, Shardul has played five matches thus far for KKR and got just two wickets to his name in the league. 

Moreover, he has scored 101 runs in his outings with his highest coming against RCB (on April 6) wherein he scored 68 runs and was adjudged Player of the Match. Meanwhile, KKR put an end to their lean patch after losing four games on the trot with a win against RCB in their last fixture. 

At present, KKR stand seventh on the IPL 2023 points table after enduring a topsy-turvy start to the first leg of the competition. Despite losing out on Shreyas Iyer for the entirety of the season owing to an injury, Nitish Rana and Co. are fighting hard for a spot in the top four. KKR will need to make the most of the forthcoming matches in order to keep their hopes alive of making it to the playoffs.