Shardul Thakur found himself in an unusual spotlight after delivering an over filled with extras during a high-voltage match between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders. The Indian all-rounder bowled five consecutive wide deliveries in a single over, creating an unwanted record in the Indian Premier League for one of the longest overs ever bowled in the tournament’s history.

The incident took place on Tuesday at Eden Gardens during the 13th over of Kolkata’s innings. Shardul's over became the longest in IPL history in terms of deliveries, as it took him 11 balls to complete it. This over also marked the first time in the tournament’s history that a bowler began an over with five straight wides.

Despite the wayward bowling, Lucknow managed to pull off a narrow 4-run victory over Kolkata in what turned out to be a nail-biting contest. However, Shardul’s over inevitably became a major talking point post-match. He ended his spell having bowled 4 overs for 52 runs, taking 2 wickets, but conceding 8 wides in total.

This performance placed Shardul alongside two other bowlers who have previously delivered 11-ball overs in the IPL — Mohammed Siraj and Tushar Deshpande. In the 2023 season, Tushar Deshpande, playing for Chennai Super Kings, bowled an 11-ball over against Lucknow Super Giants. That same year, Siraj, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, also had a similar over against Mumbai Indians.

In the match, Lucknow bowlers collectively bowled a staggering 20 wides, yet Kolkata’s batting faltered under pressure, preventing them from chasing down the target. While Shardul’s unusual over added drama to the already tense encounter, it also highlighted the challenges bowlers face in high-stakes situations, especially in a tournament as intense as the IPL.