Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma is an Indian cricketer, born on 23^rd October 1987 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He is primarily a right-arm leg-break googly bowler and is also very handy with the bat.

Table of Contents

1. Career
2. Background

Career

Domestic Career

Karn made his first-class debut during the 2007-08 Ranji Trophy season when he appeared for Railways against Jammu & Kashmir at the Karnail Singh Stadium. He played as a specialist batsman on his debut and scored 120 for his team.

After a few unimpressive performances for many years, Karn Sharma turned everyone’s heads in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season when he picked up 21 wickets at an average of 19.04 in three Ranji Trophy games.

His performance included eight wicket haul against the defending champions, Rajasthan. As a result, he received the BCCI Award for the best Under-25 cricketer.

IPL Career

He began his IPL journey with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009 and was a part of the squad that finished as the runners-up under the legendary, Anil Kumble. Unfortunately, he did not get an opportunity to don the RCB jersey in the entire 2009 season.

Karn, who made his IPL debut in 2013, became the highest paid uncapped player at the 2014 auctions when he was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 3.75 crore.

Representing the new franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Sharma formed a potent spin bowling partnership with Amit Mishra and took 11 wickets in 13 games at an economy of 6.6.

The following season, he picked up 15 wickets for Hyderabad in 14 games with a best of 4/38 against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He also appeared handy with the bat having a strike rate of 144, while batting down the order.

After having an unimpressive IPL in 2015 and 2016, Karn traded sides for the Mumbai Indians. He became the most expensive Indian player at 2017 IPL auctions after Mumbai Indians bought him for INR 3.2 Crores. Karn roared back to form in the colours of Mumbai Indians and picked 13 wickets from 9 matches in 2017 with a career best of 4/16 against familiar foes Kolkata Knight Riders.

Karn played a crucial role in Mumbai's title win (a record third title) by picking up 13 wickets in nine matches at an impressive economy of 6.97. After being released by Rohit's men, he was bought by the Chennai Super Kings for INR 5 crore at the 2018 auctions. Karn played six matches for Chennai throughout the season in which he took four wickets at an economy of 9.36. Though he had a poor season, he was selected ahead of Harbhajan in the finals, where he finished with the figures of 1/25 in 3 overs. In the 2019 season, Karn played only one match and largely warmed the bench.

International Career

ODI Career

He made his ODI debut shortly afterwards against Sri Lanka on 13^th November 2014 and had figures of 0/64 in his nine overs. He appeared in the next ODI at Ranchi as well where he failed to pick a wicket again. He has not played for India in an ODI since.

T20I Career

Karn Sharma made his debut for the national team in a T20 international against England on 7^th September 2014, which remains his only T20I appearance. He had figures of 1/28 in his 4 overs, taking the wicket of Joe Root.

Test Career

Towards the end of 2014, Karn made his test debut for the country against Australia in Adelaide. He had figures of 2/143 and 2/95. It remains his only appearance in the whites. A debut against the Aussies in their den is baptism by fire and Karn had a forgettable game although the surface did aid him. The fact that he replaced the much senior Ravichandran Ashwin drew further criticism from the pundits.

Background

Karn Sharma was born on 23 October 1987 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The leg-spinner always has had the mastery in his fingers and luck has been at his side too. He is the only player to have won IPL with three differemt teams.