In a surprise, Shardul Thakur remained unsold at the mega auction before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after being released by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for the eighteenth season. Consequently, the cricketer had put himself forward in the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore. But alas, Shardul was not able to secure any bidders, and nor did CSK decide to activate their Right To Match (RTM) card, which gave him the gloom. But the bowling all-rounder's fortunes are expected to shift with him poised to join the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise. The Palghar Express was seen in the franchise training camp with hardly a week left before the commencement of the tournament and might actually have a side to play for in the new season. He was seen undergoing a net session with the LSG setup and his image was circulating on social media, confirming the development. The fact that he remained unsold did not shake any confidence for Shardul Thakur, as he played exceptionally well in the domestic tournaments. His 2024-25 season was dominated by scintillating all-round performance where he took 35 wickets for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. Apart from that, he also played his part with the bat, amassing 505 runs at the end of the season. Also Read | 'Quite disappointed': Virat Kohli on BCCI's family restriction rule In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shardul Thakur played a key role in Mumbai’s title win under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. He took 15 wickets in nine matches, with an average of 24.53. He was Mumbai’s top wicket-taker and ranked fourth overall in the tournament. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, a 50-over competition, the 33-year-old picked up 10 wickets in seven matches. However, Mumbai could not make it to the quarter-finals. One of the reasons why the pace-bowling all-rounder may be included in the LSG team is the injury issues ongoing in the initial team. Their bowlers - Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Mohsin Khan have not yet received fitness clearance from the BCCI, and hence doubts have been cast on their availability for the next season as LSG get ready for their tournament opener against Delhi Capitals on March 24 in Visakhapatnam. Having Form by his side, the Palghar-native will be brimming with confidence to deliver the same kind of performances for LSG too. But an official confirmation of his inclusion from the team is being awaited at present, which will be making it official.