Raghu Sharma Makes His IPL Debut
“Who was this late entrant?” asked fans as Raghu Sharma, a 33-year-old leg-spinner from Punjab, made his IPL debut for the Mumbai Indians on May 2, 2026. He faced the Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, marking a significant milestone in his cricket journey.
Sharma’s cricket story began unusually late at the age of 18, inspired by India’s triumph in the 2011 World Cup. His path through domestic leagues was not straightforward. He represented Punjab and Puducherry and made his first-class debut during the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy season.
Key statistics from Raghu’s career:
- 57 wickets taken in just 12 first-class matches
- 5 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls
- 14 wickets in the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy across eight matches
- 4 wickets in four T20 matches since debuting in 2021
His breakthrough moment came when the Mumbai Indians signed him as a mid-season replacement for the injured Vignesh Puthur in 2025. Before that, he had contributed as a net bowler for MI.
On his debut day, MI captain Hardik Pandya handed him his maiden IPL cap. The Mumbai Indians were struggling at that point, sitting ninth with only four points and a net run rate of -0.784 before the match.
Sharma’s persistence has finally paid off, proving that dedication can lead to unexpected opportunities in sports. As he steps onto the field for MI, fans hope he can turn their season around after suffering a heavy defeat to CSK earlier in the tournament.
