Indian leg-spinner Karn Sharma has called time on his competitive cricket career at the age of 38, confirming his final game will take place in the UP T20 League.
Indian leg-spinner Karn Sharma has announced his retirement from all formats of competitive cricket at the age of 38. The decision was revealed following Kanpur Superstars' nine-wicket defeat to Meerut Mavericks in the UP T20 League Season 4, with the reverse fixture against Meerut on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, set to be his final professional appearance.
A visibly emotional Sharma expressed gratitude to the institutions and people who supported his long journey, stating that he intends to transition into coaching following his final match. 'To all those who supported me, I just want to say thanks,' Sharma said. '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, Sharma began his domestic journey through the UPCA Under-14 system before breaking through with Railways following his debut in 2007. He grabbed national attention in the 2012-13 Ranji Trophy season with 21 wickets at an average of 19.04 in three matches, earning the BCCI award for Best Under-25 Cricketer. In 2014, Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him up for ₹3.75 crore, making him the highest-paid uncapped player in that auction.
Sharma's career highlights include representing India in one Test, two ODIs, and one T20 International. He built an extraordinary IPL legacy as a four-time champion, achieving a rare 'three-peat' across three different franchises in consecutive seasons: Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, Mumbai Indians in 2017, and Chennai Super Kings in 2018, before claiming a fourth title with CSK in 2021.
Over his career, Sharma collected 270 wickets in 97 First-Class matches, 153 wickets in 123 List-A games, and 168 wickets in 191 T20s. Even in his final season, he remained in high demand, securing a ₹23 Lakh bid from the Kanpur Superstars as the highest-priced player at the UP T20 2026 auction.
Tributes poured in following his announcement, with Meerut Mavericks captain Rinku Singh wishing him good luck for his future endeavors and opener Swastik Chikara acknowledging the privilege of sharing the field with the veteran campaigner.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.