IPL 2026: Who is Raghu Sharma? MI’s surprise pick in high-stakes clash vs CSK

Punjab cricketer Raghu Sharma found himself in the spotlight during the high-profile IPL clash between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on May 2. While he did not start in the XI, MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed at the toss that the 33-year-old leg-spinner would feature as an Impact Player in the second innings. Earlier, Sharma was handed his maiden IPL cap, marking a significant moment in his long domestic journey.

Mumbai Indians made another change to their lineup, bringing in Krish Bhagat in place of Ashwani Kumar. Struggling this season with just two wins from eight matches, MI entered the contest placed ninth on the table with four points and a net run rate of -0.784. The fixture also carried added motivation, with MI looking to respond after a heavy 103-run defeat to CSK earlier in the tournament.



Sharma’s rise has been built on persistence. Born in Jalandhar, the leg-break bowler has represented Punjab and Puducherry in domestic cricket. Since making his first-class debut in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy, he has picked up 57 wickets in 12 matches, including five five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls.

He further impressed in the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 14 wickets in eight matches. In T20s, he has taken four wickets in four games at an economy rate of eight since debuting in 2021. His association with MI began as a net bowler before being signed as a mid-season replacement in 2025, with the franchise retaining him as part of their long-term plans.

At the toss, Hardik Pandya opted to bat first. For CSK, Ruturaj Gaikwad made two changes, bringing in Ramakrishna Ghosh for Gurjapneet Singh and Prashant Veer in place of Akeal Hosein.
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