IPL 2016: Shardul Thakur says the feeling of being left out hurts

Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur said that he was hurt by the "feeling of being left out", after he was released by Kings XI Punjab midway along with two other players.

Shardul, who had a sensational Ranji season this year, was also the triumphant Mumbai team’s highest wicket-taker, picking 41 wickets at an average of 24.51. He was bought by KXIP for Rs. 20 lakh in 2014, but has been perpetually benched, making it to the playing eleven just once in 2015.

The 24-year old said that he was not upset about making it to the final squad, but feels that the franchise should have not released him and let him learn from the experienced players in the team.

"It is obviously disappointing. I was really looking forward to doing well in the IPL. It is frustrating because if you ask anyone in the squad, I was working as hard as anyone else in the training sessions.

"It could be because of the team combination. But just being there in that group is a great learning experience. It was surely not a waste of time. We have a good coaching staff and great team management as well. It is the feeling of being left out which is hurting me.

"To bowl to different quality batsmen in the nets is, in itself, a tremendous learning experience. You learn a lot about your game. I feel they should have kept me,” he told Mid-Day.

Earlier, Shardul, who was irked after being ignored, had slammed his team on Twitter for not being included in the playing squad. "Will play a semifinal t20 game tomorrow for my club payyade sc..playing a game after 2 months..ipl has done wonders .. Certainly," he tweeted, which has resulted in him being released by the franchise.

Mid-Day had reported that Delhi Daredevils have also released a few players, including Mumbai player Akhil Herwadkar, the highest run-scorer in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy. Herwadkar has also not played a single match for side, but said that the franchise has told him that the players would be called back after a few days.

"We were not given a reason, but were told that we will be called back in a few days. I am expecting a call. This is just a few days' break," he told Mid-Day.

KXIP, along with Shardul, also released the Haryana-born all-rounder Pardeep Sahu and Mumbai batsman Armaan Jaffer. While Shardul and Jaffer did not get to play this season, leggie Sahu was in the playing squad for five matches, taking three wickets at an economy of 8.34.

Releasing the players who have been benched for a long time has been a common practice among most of the franchises in the IPL. According to ESPNcricinfo, a source from the KXIP team told them that this was a way to cut down the team and that it was easier to serve smaller squads with quality.