Karan Sharma has announced his retirement from international and Indian domestic cricket, ending a career spanning nearly two decades, which included four IPL titles.
Karn Sharma made his announcement during the UPT20 league
The 38-year-old leg spinner on Saturday night UPT20 League Made his announcement after the match between Kanpur Superstars and Meerut Mavericks. Karn will play his final match during the Lucknow leg of the tournament on August 25, following which he will be away from competitive cricket. Although his international career was brief, the Railways cricketer has carved a niche for himself with an impressive domestic record and one of India's most experienced T20 spinners.
“I now wish to retire. I am extremely grateful to my family, BCCI, Railways, UPCA, Andhra, Vidarbha Cricket Association and everyone who has supported me in this journey,” Karna said after his announcement.
He also revealed that he wants to remain associated with the game, saying that he will be available for coaching and other cricket related responsibilities after retirement.
From Ranji Trophy century to India's debut
Karn made his first-class, List A and T20 career during the 2007–08 domestic season. An all-rounder in his formative years, he made an immediate impact by scoring a century on his debut in the Ranji Trophy. However, his real breakthrough came in the 2012–13 season. Karn took 21 wickets at an average of 19.04 in only three Ranji Trophy matches and was later named as the BCCI's best under-25 cricketer.
His performance also got him a big opportunity in the IPL. Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for Rs 3.75 crore in the 2014 auction, making him the most expensive uncapped Indian player at that time. That session proved to be a turning point for him. Karn was selected in the Indian team for the tour of England and made his T20I debut. Joe Root as his only wicket.
Four international appearances and an IPL legacy
Karn soon joined India's ODI squad for the tour of Sri Lanka. He made his ODI debut in the famous match in which Rohit Sharma Scored a world record 264 runs. Karn played one more match in the series but took no wickets in both appearances. Later in 2014, he got a Test opportunity against Australia in Adelaide. He took two wickets in each innings, but this match ultimately turned out to be his final appearance in India. An injury ruled him out of the 2015 Zimbabwe tour, and he never returned to the international setup.
Despite limited international opportunities, Karn had a memorable IPL career. In 2018, he became the first player to win three consecutive IPL titles with three different teams — Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, Mumbai Indians in 2017 and Chennai Super Kings in 2018. His final IPL appearance came for Mumbai Indians in 2025, while he continued to represent Railways across all formats during the 2025–26 domestic season.
Impressive figures show longevity
Karn finished his first-class career with 270 wickets in 97 matches at an average of 27.60, including 14 five-wicket hauls. He also scored 2,866 runs, which included two centuries and 17 half-centuries. In List A cricket, he took 153 wickets in 123 matches, including three five-wicket hauls. His T20 career yielded 168 wickets in 191 matches, including 83 wickets in 90 IPL appearances.
After announcing his retirement, Karna leaves the playing field with a career based on tenacity, adaptability and longevity. His next chapter will be cricket-related, with coaching and other roles potentially providing the veteran spinner another way to contribute to the game he has served for so long.