Karn Sharma

Karn Vinod Sharma is an Indian cricketer who was born on October 23, 1987, in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. He is primarily a right-arm leg-break bowler and is handy with the bat as well.

Sharma shot to prominence when he sported the orange colors of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. His variety as a leg-spinner earned him India caps across formats.

Karn Sharma: Along the Years

Karn Sharma Records

• First player to win the Indian Premier League thrice consecutively (2017, 2018 & 2019)

Karn Sharma Awards and Accolades

• Best Under-25 cricketer by BCCI in 2012-13

Karn Sharma Career

Karn Sharma is one of the finest leg-break bowlers in the Indian domestic circuit. He has had a tremendous record in domestic cricket with the ball and has scored a few centuries as well to show his batting potential.

Karn Sharma Domestic Career

Karn Sharma 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 an eight-wicket haul against the defending champions, Rajasthan. As a result, he received the BCCI Award for the best Under-25 cricketer.

Karn Sharma IPL Career

Karn Sharma began his IPL journey with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) 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 auction 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. Though he could not perform to his potential with the ball for the Sunrisers, he won the IPL in 2016.

After having an unimpressive IPL in 2015 and 2016, Karn traded sides for the Mumbai Indians. He became the most expensive Indian player at the 2017 IPL auction after Mumbai Indians bought him for INR 3.2 crores. Karn roared back to form in the colors 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 crores 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 Singh in the finals, where he finished with the figures of 1/25 in 3 overs as the Super Kings staged a comeback in their return to the league after facing a two-year suspension. With that title victory, Sharma also had the distinct record of becoming the first player in IPL history to have won three titles in three consecutive years.

In the 2019 season, Sharma played only one match and largely warmed the bench as the Super Kings finished as the runners-up against Mumbai Indians. He did not get enough game time in the next two seasons as the Super Kings had a dismal season and a victorious campaign respectively.

The 36-year-old wily leggie was released ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction and found home yet again in his first-ever IPL team as the Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) snapped him up for a mere INR 50 lakhs. Though he did not get to play a game in that season, he had decent seasons across the 2023 and 2024 editions of the IPL as he picked 17 wickets with the ball in the two seasons and also nearly won a nail-biting thriller against eventual champions Kolkata Knight Riders, when he whacked the most expensive buy of the season Mitchell Starc for three sixes in the last over as the Royal Challengers had a heartbreak, losing by a margin of a solitary run.

Karn Sharma International Career

Despite Karn Sharma debuting for the Indian cricket team across all three formats, he was not given adequate opportunities as he just played about a game or two in every format.

Karn Sharma ODI Career

Karn Sharma made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on November 13, 2014, and had figures of none for 64 in his nine overs. His debut was overshadowed by a whirlwind knock by opener Rohit Sharma as he slammed a world record 264. 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.

Karn Sharma Test Career

Towards the end of 2014, Karn Sharma 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.

Karn Sharma T20I Career

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

Karn Sharma's Net Worth

As of 2024, Karn Sharma’s net worth is estimated to be around INR 45 crores approximately.

Karn Sharma's House

Karn Sharma resides in a lavish and spacious house in his hometown Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.