Raghu Sharma made his IPL debut on May 2, 2026, for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings. He is a 33-year-old leg-spinner from Punjab. His journey through domestic cricket highlights the potential of late bloomers in the sport.
Sharma’s breakthrough moment came when MI captain Hardik Pandya handed him his maiden IPL cap. He started playing cricket at age 18, inspired by India’s 2011 World Cup triumph.
Sharma has represented Punjab and Puducherry in domestic competitions. He made his first-class debut in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy season.
Key statistics:
- 57 wickets taken in 12 first-class matches
- Five five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls
- 14 wickets in eight matches during the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy
- Four wickets in four T20 matches since debuting in 2021
Mumbai Indians struggled early in the IPL 2026 season, sitting ninth with four points and a net run rate of -0.784 before this match. They had previously suffered a significant defeat to CSK by 103 runs.
Sharma was signed by Mumbai Indians as a mid-season replacement in 2025 after being associated with MI as a net bowler.
