Raghu Sharma will represent Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2026 after being retained for ₹30 lakh, the same amount at which he joined the franchise earlier as a replacement signing. A leg spinner from Punjab with strong domestic experience, Raghu enters IPL 2026 aiming to make his debut and strengthen MI’s spin attack.
Known for his consistent control, ability to extract turn, and impactful spells in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Raghu stands out as a promising Indian spinner with years of domestic experience across formats.
Raghu Sharma IPL 2026 Price & Team
| IPL Year | Team | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | ₹30 lakh |
| 2025 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | ₹30 lakh |
| 2024 | – | – |
MI continue to show long-term faith in the experienced domestic leg-spinner despite him not making his IPL debut yet.
Who Is Raghu Sharma?
Raghu Sharma, full name Raghu Shivam Sharma, is a right-arm legbreak bowler from Jalandhar, Punjab. Born on March 11, 1993, he has represented teams like Punjab, Puducherry, Galle Cricket Club, Panthers XI, Sharks XI, and Villianur Mohit Kings in domestic and club cricket.
Before joining MI formally, he trained with the franchise as a support bowler and impressed the coaching staff with his discipline, sharp leg-breaks, and accuracy.
His breakthrough came in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024–25, where he delivered an excellent run:
- 14 wickets in 8 matches,
- maintained good control,
- and bowled important spells for Punjab.
These performances were key in MI retaining him for IPL 2026.
See Also: IPL All Team Coaches and Their Salaries
Raghu Sharma Career Stats Across Formats
Bowling Career Summary
| Format | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 12 | 20 | 2301 | 1256 | 57 | 7/56 | 22.03 | 3.27 | 40.3 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| List A | 11 | 11 | 526 | 449 | 17 | 4/37 | 26.41 | 5.12 | 30.9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20 | 4 | 4 | 84 | 112 | 4 | 2/34 | 28.00 | 8.00 | 21.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Key Highlights
- Multiple five-wicket hauls in First-Class cricket.
- Ability to take wickets in long spells with consistency.
- Strong strike rate in the T20 format for a wrist spinner with limited matches.
- Proven match-winning spells such as 7/56 and 11/108 across a match.
Raghu Sharma Batting & Fielding Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s | Catches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC | 12 | 116 | 29 | 10.54 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| List A | 11 | 29 | 22* | 14.50 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| T20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Raghu contributes mainly as a bowler, though he can handle the bat in lower order when needed.
Raghu Sharma Recent Matches (Domestic)
| Match | Bat | Bowl | Date | Ground | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punjab vs Chhattisgarh | – | 2/45 | 26-Dec-2025 | Jaipur | List A |
| Punjab vs Maharashtra | – | 1/43 | 24-Dec-2025 | Jaipur | List A |
| Punjab vs M. Pradesh | – | 1/24 | 16-Dec-2025 | Ambi | T20 |
| Punjab vs M. Pradesh | 0 | 0/139 | 15-Oct-2025 | Indore | FC |
| Punjab vs Maharashtra | 5 | 0/39 | 11-Jan-2025 | Vadodara | List A |
What These Performances Show
- Consistent ability to pick wickets in List A cricket.
- Fitness and rhythm across formats.
- Ready to step into higher-level cricket such as IPL.
Raghu Sharma Domestic Debut & Last Match
First-Class
- Debut: Punjab vs Vidarbha, October 2017 (Mohali)
- Last: Punjab vs Madhya Pradesh, October 2025 (Indore)
List A
- Debut: Delhi vs Puducherry, February 2021 (Jaipur)
- Last: Chhattisgarh vs Punjab, December 2025 (Jaipur)
T20
- Debut: Puducherry vs Kerala, January 2021 (Wankhede)
- Last: Madhya Pradesh vs Punjab, December 2025 (Ambi)
Raghu Sharma IPL Career
Raghu is yet to make his official IPL debut, but MI’s decision to retain him for 2026 shows clear trust in his potential.
Read Also: Mumbai Indians (MI) Most Successful Run-Chases in IPL History
Why MI Retained Raghu Sharma
- Reliable domestic leg-spinner with proven First-Class success.
- Wrist spinners add strong value in IPL middle overs.
- MI’s scouting team has worked with him earlier as a support bowler.
- Good work ethic and experience across formats.
Conclusion
Raghu Sharma enters IPL 2026 as a matured domestic bowler ready for the big stage. With Mumbai Indians investing ₹30 lakh and retaining him, the franchise clearly sees long-term potential in his leg-spin skills, domestic experience, and discipline. IPL 2026 could mark the beginning of an important chapter in his career.
