Veteran Indian leg-spinner Karn Sharma has announced his retirement from all formats of competitive cricket. The 38-year-old made the announcement following Kanpur Superstars’ nine-wicket defeat to the Meerut Mavericks in the UP T20 League Season 4. He confirmed that the reverse fixture against Meerut on Tuesday, August 25, would be his final professional game, according to a press release.
Speaking on the UP T20 League, Sharma said, “It is actually a very good initiative. For me and others, it is a good opportunity. The message is that… I just want to retire. I will be playing my last game on Tuesday, and I will be retiring from all formats.”
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Reflecting on his career, he expressed gratitude: “To all those who supported me, I just want to say thanks. My family, the BCCI, Railways, UPCA, Andhra, and all those who have supported me in this journey, I am really grateful. I will be available for coaching and all after this.”
Born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Sharma rose through
Born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, Sharma rose through the UPCA system, representing the state at the Under-14 level before establishing himself as a domestic heavyweight with Railways. He made his debut in 2007 and captured national attention during the 2012-13 season by claiming 21 wickets at an average of 19.04 in just three Ranji Trophy matches, earning the BCCI award for the Best Under-25 Cricketer.
Sharma became the third cricketer from Meerut to gain national prominence following Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar when Sunrisers Hyderabad purchased him for Rs 3.75 crore in the 2014 IPL auction, making him the highest-paid uncapped player at the time. His strong performances led to a national call-up, where he represented India in one Test, two One Day Internationals, and one T20 International.
Over his career, Sharma took 270 wickets in 97 First-Class matches, 153 wickets in 123 List A games, and 168 wickets in 191 T20 matches. However, his legacy is most notably marked by his achievements in the Indian Premier League. Often described as a fortunate charm, he won four IPL titles, achieving the rare feat of securing a championship “three-peat” with three different franchises in consecutive years: Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, Mumbai Indians in 2017, and Chennai Super Kings in 2018, followed by a fourth title with Chennai Super Kings in 2021.
His value in T20 cricket remained high until
His value in T20 cricket remained high until the end, as he became the highest-priced player at the UP T20 2026 auction for the second consecutive season when Kanpur Superstars acquired him for Rs 23 lakh.
Following the announcement, Meerut Mavericks captain and Indian international Rinku Singh praised Sharma’s career, stating, “I want to say that everything has been great in Bhaiya’s career. He played well for the franchises, for India. I wish him good luck for his future endeavours.”
Swastik Chikara, the Mavericks’ young opener, also acknowledged Sharma’s impact: “Karn bhai has had a fantastic career. He has been very lucky for everyone, and whichever team he has played for, that team has gone on to become champions. He’s a very good person and has played excellent cricket. He has played for India and achieved so much. I’m very happy that his retirement happened in front of me today and that I got to witness it. Having such a big player playing alongside us is a very special thing for me. So, thank you, I don’t really know what more I can say.”
Karn Sharma will bowl his final overs on Tuesday, August 25, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, concluding a career spanning nearly two decades.
Source: thenewsmill.com
