Chennai, May 02,2026: Who is Raghu Sharma is trending after the 33-year-old leg-spinner made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings. He was named as an Impact Player during a crucial IPL 2026 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Raghu Sharma received his maiden IPL cap after years in domestic cricket. Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya confirmed at the toss that Sharma would be used in the second innings as an Impact Player.
Born in Jalandhar, Sharma built his career through consistent domestic performances. He has represented Punjab and Puducherry and made his first-class debut in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy season.
In 12 first-class matches, Sharma has taken 57 wickets. His record includes five five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket match performances, highlighting his ability as a match-winning spinner.
He also performed well in the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, picking up 14 wickets in eight matches. In T20 cricket, Sharma has played four matches since his debut in 2021 and has maintained an economy rate of eight.
Sharma’s association with Mumbai Indians began as a net bowler. He was later signed as a mid-season replacement in 2025 and retained for the 2026 season, showing the franchise’s confidence in his abilities.
Mumbai Indians entered the match in a difficult position, placed ninth on the table with two wins from eight games. The team made changes to improve balance, including bringing in Krish Bhagat in place of Ashwani Kumar.
For Chennai Super Kings, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad also made adjustments, introducing Ramakrishna Ghosh and Prashant Veer into the lineup.
Sharma’s debut reflects his long journey through domestic cricket and persistence in the sport. His inclusion also highlights Mumbai Indians’ strategy to bring fresh options into their squad during IPL 2026.
The team will look to see how Sharma performs in upcoming matches as they aim to improve their standing in the tournament.
