Karn Sharma, the leg-spinner who played one Test, two ODIs and one T20I for India, has retired from international and Indian domestic cricket. The 38-year-old Railways bowler announced his decision on Saturday night after the UP T20 League match between Kanpur Superstars and Meerut Mavericks. He will play his final match during his team’s last game of the Lucknow leg on August 25.
“I now want to retire. I am extremely grateful to my family, BCCI, Railways, UPCA, Andhra, Vidarbha Cricket Association and everyone who has supported me throughout this journey,” Karn said while announcing his decision.
“After this, I will be available for coaching and other responsibilities related to the game of cricket.”
Karn made his first-class, List A and T20 debuts during the 2007-08 domestic season and initially developed as an all-rounder. He marked his Ranji Trophy debut with a century, but his breakthrough came in the 2012-13 season.
He took 21 wickets at an average of 19.04 in three Ranji Trophy matches that season and was rewarded with the BCCI’s Best Under-25 Cricketer award. His performances also earned him a lucrative IPL contract.
At the 2014 IPL auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Karn for INR 3.75 crore, making him the most expensive uncapped Indian player at the auction at the time.
His performances in domestic cricket and the IPL caught the attention of the national selectors, and he was included in India’s limited-overs squad for the 2014 tour of England. Karn made his T20I debut on that tour and dismissed Joe Root for his only wicket in the format for India.
He was then picked for India’s ODI tour of Sri Lanka and made his debut in the iconic match in which Rohit Sharma scored 264. Karn played one more ODI in the series but went wicketless in both matches.
Later that year, he made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide. Karn took two wickets in each innings, finishing with four wickets in what proved to be his only Test appearance.
That was also his final international assignment. Karn was selected for India’s limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe in 2015, but an injury ruled him out and he never returned to the national side.
THREE IPL TITLES
Karn enjoyed considerable success in the IPL despite his limited international career. In 2018, he became the first player to win three consecutive IPL titles with three different teams.
He won his first title with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 before lifting the trophy with Mumbai Indians in 2017 and Chennai Super Kings in 2018.
During that period, Karn also moved between domestic teams. He represented Vidarbha in the 2017-18 season and Andhra in 2018-19 before returning to Railways.
His last IPL appearance came for Mumbai Indians in 2025. He remained part of the Railways setup across formats during the 2025-26 domestic season.
Karn retires with an extensive domestic record. In 97 first-class matches, he took 270 wickets at an average of 27.60, including 14 five-wicket hauls. He also scored 2,866 runs in 138 innings, with two centuries and 17 fifties.
In 123 List A matches, Karn claimed 153 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls. He also scored one century and six half-centuries in the format.
His T20 record stands at 168 wickets in 191 matches, including 83 wickets in 90 IPL appearances. He also registered two fifties in T20 cricket.
After a career spanning nearly two decades, Karn will now turn his attention to coaching and other responsibilities in the game.
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