When Hardik Pandya handed Raghu Sharma his debut cap at the MA Chidambaram Stadium against the Chennai Super Kings, thousands of fans immediately pulled out their phones to ask one question: “Who is this guy?” The answer is one of cricket’s most human stories — a man who took 15 years, two countries, one hamstring injury, and a life-changing chat with Imran Tahir to get to this moment.
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Raghu Sharma — IPL Player Profile at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Raghu Sharma |
| Age | 33 |
| Role | Leg Spin Bowler |
| State | Punjab / Puducherry |
| IPL Team | Mumbai Indians |
| IPL Debut | May 2, 2026 vs CSK |
| How He Joined MI | Net bowler → Injury replacement for Vignesh Puthur |
| FC Best Bowling | 7/56 |
| FC Wickets | 57 in 12 matches |
The Journey Nobody Saw Coming
Raghu’s cricket journey began in 2011 after India won the ODI World Cup — before that, he didn’t care for the sport. At 18, an age by which most people have already mapped out their futures, he decided to start his journey toward professional cricket.
Initially a fast bowler, he pulled his hamstring during a practice session at the Jalandhar District Cricket Association. For fun, he started bowling leg cutters without a run-up — and that’s when Madan Lal, a former ODI World Cup winner, noticed him and advised him to switch to leg spin.
In 2017, he made his Ranji Trophy debut for Punjab. Opportunities came few and far between, so before the 2020-21 season he moved to Puducherry, where he made his List A and T20 debuts. In 2022, he went to Sri Lanka to play for Galle Cricket Club.
The real turning point came in England. In 2023, he represented Longton 1st XI in the North Staffs and South Cheshire League — where he met South African leg spinner Imran Tahir. After a long and insightful conversation, Raghu decided to remodel his bowling action entirely.
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How Did Raghu Sharma End Up at Mumbai Indians?
In 2025, MI used him as a net bowler. After left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur was ruled out of the season due to injury, Raghu was announced as his replacement and was subsequently retained ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Even Irfan Pathan took to social media to wish him well, noting that Raghu had served as a bowling coach at his CAP academy in Jaipur from 2019 to 2021 — mentoring young cricketers while still chasing his own dream. That detail alone tells you everything about this man’s character.
Raghu Sharma’s Bowling Stats
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Class | 12 | 57 | 7/56 | 22.03 | 3.27 |
| List A | 12 | 18 | 4/37 | 27.50 | 5.22 |
| T20 | 4 | 4 | 2/34 | 28.00 | 8.00 |
His First Class numbers are genuinely outstanding — 57 wickets at 22.03 with five five-wicket hauls tell you this is no journeyman. He’s a wicket-taking bowler who simply never got his stage. Until now.
Stay updated with MI’s IPL 2026 campaign and Raghu Sharma’s performances at TechnoSports’ cricket hub.
FAQs
Q1. How did Raghu Sharma get into the Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2026?
Raghu Sharma first joined MI as a net bowler in IPL 2025 and was later added to the squad as an injury replacement for left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur, before being retained ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Q2. What is Raghu Sharma’s strongest format and best bowling figures?
Raghu is primarily a First Class specialist with 57 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 22.03 — his best figures of 7/56 highlight exactly the kind of match-winning ability that convinced Mumbai Indians to back him at the highest level.
