Cricketer Shardul Thakur and Mittali Parulkar welcome their first child: 'Baby boy, the dream we held quietly'

Shardul Thakur, the Mumbai and India all-rounder, and his wife Mittali Parulkar joyfully announced the arrival of their first child, a baby boy, on Sunday via social media. Shardul, who has played for India in 13 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, shared the happy news on Instagram. He was recently traded to the Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants. The announcement revealed a secret they had kept for nine months.

Shardul announces arrival of hid baby boy

"Hidden beneath parents' hearts, protected by silence, faith, and endless love. Our little secret is finally here. Welcome, baby boy- the dream we held quietly for 9 beautiful months," wrote Shardul in his Insta story, which was accompanied by a poster announcing "We are blessed with a Baby Boy!"

Fans pour in love

Following the announcement, the couple received an abundance of congratulatory messages from fans. Shardul and Mittali, who got engaged in November 2021 and married on February 28, 2023, are celebrating their new arrival. Mittali, a baker from Kohlapur, is now a mother.

Shardul’s upcoming ventures

Shardul Thakur is gearing up for the upcoming Indian Premier League season. In his IPL career, he has played 105 games, taking 107 wickets and scoring a highest score of 68 as a batter. Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai Indians' head coach, noted that Shardul's inclusion would bring a new dimension to the team's structure in IPL 2026. Jayawardene emphasized Thakur's versatility and experience as valuable assets. The team anticipates leveraging his all-round capabilities to enhance their performance in the upcoming season.

Shardul Thakur is leading Mumbai in domestic cricket and honing his skills in the city. He moved from Palghar to Mumbai to chase his cricket dreams. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians also brought in Sherfane Rutherford and Mayank Markande in trades.

"We're very pleased with the balance we've been able to build after the auction. Shardul (Thakur) gives us a different structure with his versatility, experience, and all-round depth. Him being a Mumbai boy ... It's a great story from where he started and then became part of the Mumbai Indians," added the Mumbai Indians coach.