Starting May 23, 2020, Shardul Thakur and a few other players, including a keeper and batsman from the Mumbai Ranji team, resumed their drills. Thakur conducted his sessions within the nets at the Palghar Dahanu Taluka Sports Association. This move followed the Maharashtra government's directive to allow athletes back into stadiums without spectators, coinciding with the end of the lockdown's fourth phase on May 31.
Shardul Thakur, the Indian batsman along with a few players, Mumbai Ranji team’s wicket-keeper, and batsman had begun the practice on 23rd May 2020. Thakur was found practicing inside, the nets at the Palghar Dahanu Taluka Sports Association. Since the fourth phase of lockdown ends on May 31st, 2020, the Maharashtra government had opened the stadiums for the athletes to practice without spectators.
Speaking to PTI, Shardul Thakur and Mumbai's Hardik Tamore shared their satisfaction with returning to the PDTSA Boisar playground on May 25, 2020. To keep everyone safe, PDTSA officials implemented strict measures, such as disinfecting the cricket balls and monitoring players' temperatures. Ajinkya Naik from the Mumbai Cricket Council noted that these activities only commenced once the Palghar District collector gave the official green light.
Naik highlighted that the athletes are training comfortably thanks to top-notch facilities and a strict commitment to social distancing. With the BCCI planning training camps for the upcoming IPL Season 13 after the rainy season, heavyweights like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are staying on standby for official instructions. This follows the lead of English cricketers Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes, who were among the first internationals to resume local training for the BCCI tour.