Raghu Sharma made an emotional celebration after taking his maiden IPL wicket for Mumbai Indians in their match against Lucknow Super Giants on Monday, May 4 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In his second IPL match, Raghu opened his account by dismissing debutant Akshat Raghuwanshi.
The 33-year-old got Raghuwanshi with a clever flighted delivery that induced a mistimed push, as a pad-and-bat deflection lobbed back for a simple caught-and-bowled. Thereafter, Raghu pulled out a note from his pocket and celebrated by displaying it as his teammates gathered around him.
The note read, “A very painful 15 years. By divine mercy of Gurudev ended today. Thanks Mumbai Indians (Blue and Gold) for giving me this opportunity. Ever grateful.”
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The message captured the essence of his long struggle in domestic cricket and his delayed arrival on the IPL stage. Having debuted late and spent years outside the spotlight, the wicket symbolised the culmination of perseverance, faith, and patience.
HOW RAGHU BOWLED AGAINST LSG
Raghu Sharma delivered a steady outing with the ball against the Super Giants, finishing with figures of 4-0-36-1. The leg-spinner made an early impact dismissing Raghuwanshi. He mixed his pace and lengths effectively, troubling batters with drift and subtle variations.
He kept things tight through the middle overs, even as Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram looked to accelerate. While he was taken on for a couple of sixes, Raghu showed composure, maintaining control and forcing batters into risks. His spell reflected both promise and discipline, marking a confident step forward in his IPL journey.
RAGHU SHARMA’S CAREER IN BRIEF
Raghu has endured his share of struggles over the years, having played only 30 matches across first-class, List A and T20 cricket since making his debut back in 2017. Born in Jalandhar, the leg-spinner represented Punjab and Puducherry, making his first-class debut in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy. He impressed in red-ball cricket, picking up 57 wickets in 12 matches, including multiple five-wicket and ten-wicket hauls.
In limited-overs formats, he gained attention during the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, claiming 14 wickets in eight matches. His breakthrough came in 2025 when Mumbai Indians signed him as a mid-season replacement. Having earlier served as a net bowler with the franchise, Sharma’s steady progress and exposure to top-level cricket earned him recognition and a continued role within the setup.
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