- By Namrata Vijay
- Sat, 02 May 2026 08:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
CSK vs MI IPL 2026: Punjab cricketer Raghu Sharma is making his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk Stadium this Saturday. Before the match, MI captain Hardik Pandya awarded Raghu his first IPL cap.
As Raghu debuts, Mumbai introduced Krish Bhagat in place of Ashwani Kumar. Raghu is listed among the impact players. Hardik Pandya's team is having a tough season, sitting ninth in the standings with only 4 points and a net run rate of -0.784, having won just 2 of 8 matches.
The Hardik Pandya-led team aims to avenge a home defeat to the same opponent.
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WHO IS RAGHU SHARMA
He is seen as a rising talent in Indian domestic cricket, with strong performances in domestic tournaments. From Jalandhar, Raghu is a right-arm leg-spinner who contributes lower-order runs.
He launched his domestic career with Punjab and Puducherry across all formats. His first-class debut came during the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy, establishing him as a dependable spinner. In red-ball cricket, he has 57 wickets in 12 first-class games, including five five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls.
In white-ball cricket, he excelled during the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking 14 wickets from eight matches. In T20S, he has claimed 4 wickets in 4 games at an economy rate of 8.
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A key moment in Raghu's career came when he joined the Mumbai squad midway as an injury replacement for Vignesh Puthur. Previously, he served as a net bowler with the team, gaining valuable experience from senior players and coaches. Though he didn't play that season, the management retained him, signaling their confidence in his abilities.