Laxmi Shukla

Laxmi Ratan Shukla is a professional Indian all rounder, who presently represents the Bengal cricket team. He is also a player of Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team 2012.

In the 1997-98 season, Shukla debuted for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and the opponent was Maharashtra. Although, he was a teenager, he made a good impression and was selected in the India Under-19 team that participated in the MTN Youth World Cup in 1998 in South Africa. In the next season, he took part in the Wills Trophy, During the semi-final against Delhi, he was an opening batsman for Bengal and hit a match winning century. The result of these excellent performances was that he was chosen for the international arena.

He debuted in international cricket in the Pepsi Cup. However, while playing against Sri Lanka he proved to be an expensive bowler as in the 4 overs which he bowled, 32 runs were scored. Further, the Coca-Cola Singapore Challenge was played in which while playing against West Indies, he exhibited a somewhat better performance. After this season, the selectors ignored him. In the initial part of 2000, he was chosen by the National Cricket Academy as a trainee. However, injuries forced him to leave this Academy.

Shukla was selected by Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. On 25th May 2008, he played a Twenty20 match against Kings XI Punjab at Kolkata. He scored 5 runs in 4 balls in this match. 2 overs were bowled by him in which he gave away 23 runs.

=== Career Highlights ===

Shukla has appeared in 46 Twenty20 matches and in these he has accumulated 633 runs at a batting average of 22.60 and batting strike rate of 124.11. His highest score was 76. He took 34 wickets in the 612 deliveries which he bowled and conceded 733 runs. His economy rate was 7.18.