© 2026 Copyright Lifease Solutions LLP. All rights reserved.
NEWS
New Delhi, August 23, 2026: Veteran Indian all-rounder Karn Sharma has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket, bringing an end to a long and accomplished career spanning more than a decade.
The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer confirmed that he will retire from all forms of Indian cricket after representing Kanpur Superstars in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2026 on August 25. His announcement came after Kanpur Superstars' match against Meerut Mavericks.
“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.
The 39-year-old leg-spinner also indicated that he intends to remain involved in cricket after retirement, saying he would be available for coaching and other responsibilities related to the game.
Karn Sharma leaves the Indian Premier League with the rare distinction of being a four-time IPL champion.
He began his IPL journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad, winning the title with the franchise in 2016. He later represented Mumbai Indians, where he added another championship medal, before becoming part of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the IPL in 2018 and 2021.
Across 90 IPL matches, Karn claimed 83 wickets at an average of 26.88, including two four-wicket hauls. With the bat, he scored 352 runs in 41 innings.
His IPL career also included appearances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while he represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in the now-defunct Champions League T20.
Karn was also part of the select group of players to win three consecutive IPL titles, underlining his contribution to successful teams despite often operating in a supporting role.
Karn Sharma made his international debut in 2014 and went on to represent India across T20Is, ODIs and Tests.
His only T20I appearance came against England, where he returned figures of 1/28.
He made his ODI debut against Sri Lanka in the match in which Rohit Sharma scored his then-world-record 264. Karn bowled nine overs without taking a wicket and remained wicketless in his second ODI as well.
His most memorable international moment came in Test cricket. Making his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide, Karn dismissed Australian openers Chris Rogers and David Warner. India ultimately lost the match by 48 runs, despite Virat Kohli scoring 141 in the fourth innings.
Although his international career remained relatively short, Karn's journey from domestic cricket to the IPL and India's Test squad made him an important figure in Indian cricket's spin-bowling pool during the 2010s.
Karn's biggest contribution came in domestic cricket, where he built an impressive record over a lengthy career.
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 at 22.74, with two centuries and 17 fifties.
In List A cricket, he featured in 123 matches, taking 153 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls. He contributed 1,827 runs with the bat, including one century and six fifties.
His ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him a valuable all-round option throughout his domestic career.
Karn Sharma's retirement marks the conclusion of a career that combined domestic consistency, IPL success and a brief international stint.
While his time in India's international setup was limited, his four IPL titles and extensive domestic record ensure that he will be remembered as one of the experienced Indian cricketers who built a successful career across multiple eras of the game.
With retirement now approaching, Karn's next challenge could come away from playing with the veteran already expressing his willingness to contribute to cricket through coaching and other roles within the sport.
Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.
Popular Series
Live Cricket Score