The IPL Hat-Trick Man : Karn Sharma Announces Retirement
Leg-Spinner Karn Sharma Announces Retirement From All Forms of Cricket
LUCKNOW: Indian leg-spinner Karn Sharma on Saturday announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, bringing the curtains down on a professional career that spanned nearly two decades. The 37-year-old made the emotional announcement after playing his last competitive match in the UP T20 League at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The venue, which has been central to Uttar Pradesh cricket in recent years, became the fitting stage for his farewell. Karn, born in Meerut on October 23, 1987, started his domestic career back in 2007 and went on to become one of the most successful leg-spinners in Indian domestic cricket.
A Long and Steady Domestic Journey
Karn Sharma represented Railways for most of his career and later became eligible to play for UP-based sides in the UP T20 League after the BCCI allowed Railways players with UP domicile to participate. In first-class cricket, he was a genuine wicket-taker and a handy lower-order batter, with over 3000 runs and more than 200 wickets across formats. Known for his big leg-breaks and a deceptive googly, he was always a captain’s go-to bowler in pressure situations.
The IPL Hat-Trick Man : While his domestic record was solid, Karn Sharma will be remembered most for his incredible success in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is one of the rare players in IPL history to win three consecutive IPL titles with three different franchises:
2016 with Sunrisers Hyderabad: Played a crucial role in the middle overs alongside Ben Cutting in the final.
2017 with Mumbai Indians: Delivered a match-winning spell of 4/16 in the Qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders.
2018 with Chennai Super Kings: Was part of MS Dhoni’s champion side on its comeback season.
Overall, Karn played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 77 IPL matches, he picked up 76 wickets with an economy that always kept his team in the game. He was the costliest buy in the UP T20 League mini-auction last year, bought by Noida Kings, proving his relevance even at 37.
Brief but Proud International Career : Karn Sharma wore the Indian jersey in all three formats, a dream for any cricketer. He made his T20I and ODI debut during India’s tour of England in 2014 and his only Test appearance came against Australia in Adelaide in December 2014, where he picked up 4 wickets in the match. Though his international career was limited to 1 Test, 2 ODIs, and 1 T20I, he was always regarded as a team man who was ready whenever called upon.
Emotional Farewell : Speaking after his final UP T20 League game at Ekana, Karn thanked the BCCI, UPCA, Railways Sports Promotion Board, all his IPL franchises, teammates, and his family.”From the streets of Meerut to playing at Ekana Stadium, it has been an unbelievable journey. I am thankful to everyone who supported me. It is time for the next generation,” he said.
With his retirement,Indian cricket loses one of its most experienced and decorated leg-spinners, a player who proved that consistency, humility, and hard work can win you championships across teams and eras.
