Mumbai, Dec 21 (NationPress) The renowned all-rounder from Mumbai and India, Shardul Thakur, alongside his wife Mittali Parulkar, has joyfully welcomed their first child, a baby boy. This delightful news was shared by the cricketer on Sunday through a post on social media.

Shardul, who has represented India in 13 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 25 T20Is, recently made a switch to the Mumbai Indians from the Lucknow Super Giants. On Sunday, he unveiled the cherished secret they had kept for nine months via an Instagram story.

"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," Shardul expressed in his Insta story, which featured a poster declaring, "We are blessed with a Baby Boy!".

The announcement drew an overwhelming response, with fans flooding in to congratulate the pacer and his wife.

Shardul and Mittali got engaged in November 2021 and tied the knot on February 28, 2023. Originally from Kohlapur, Mittali is a professional baker.

As the Indian Premier League season approaches, Thakur is preparing for the challenges ahead. In a total of 105 IPL matches, he has secured 107 wickets, with a personal best batting score of 68.

The head coach of the Mumbai Indians, Mahela Jayawardene, noted that the addition of seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur would provide a unique structure to the team for IPL 2026, emphasizing his versatility and experience as valuable assets.

Thakur leads Mumbai in the domestic cricket arena and developed his cricketing abilities in the city after relocating from Palghar. Alongside him, the Mumbai Indians also welcomed Sherfane Rutherford and Mayank Markande.

“We’re thrilled with the balance we’ve achieved post-auction. Shardul (Thakur) offers us a different structure with his versatility, experience, and all-around depth. Being a Mumbai boy, it’s a remarkable journey from where he began to becoming part of the Mumbai Indians,” added the coach.