Raghu Sharma, 33-Year-Old Leg Spinner, Makes IPL Debut for Mumbai Indians Against Chennai Super Kings

Key facts

• Raghu Sharma, 33, represents Punjab in domestic cricket.
• He made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians on May 2, 2026, against Chennai Super Kings.
• He was signed as a replacement for injured Vignesh Puthur in 2025 for Rs 30 lakh.
• Raghu has 4 wickets in 4 T20 matches, 57 wickets in 12 First Class matches, and 18 wickets in 12 List A fixtures.
• He received his Mumbai Indians cap from captain Hardik Pandya before the toss.
• Mumbai Indians dropped Ashwani Kumar and brought in Krish Bhagat for the match.
• Rohit Sharma remains sidelined due to a hamstring injury suffered on April 12.
• Chennai Super Kings made three changes: Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, and Prashant Veer replaced Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, and Gurjapneet Singh.

A Long-Awaited Debut at Chepauk

At 33, leg spinner Raghu Sharma finally stepped onto an IPL field on Saturday, May 2, 2026, as he made his debut for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Punjab domestic cricketer, who has been plying his trade in first-class and limited-overs cricket for years, received his Mumbai Indians cap from captain Hardik Pandya just before the toss. Pandya announced the debut during the coin flip, stating, “We have one debut – the leggie (Raghu Sharma) plays his first game.”

From Replacement to Opportunity

Raghu was signed by Mumbai Indians as a replacement player for the injured Vignesh Puthur in 2025, for a fee of Rs 30 lakh. However, he did not get a chance to play a single match in the 2025 edition of the tournament. His opportunity finally arrived in a must-win fixture for Mumbai Indians against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. Raghu was named in the impact substitutes list after Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bat first, meaning he will come into action during the second half of the match.

Domestic Pedigree and Limited T20 Experience

Raghu Sharma has played four T20 matches in his career so far, picking up four wickets. He has also taken 57 wickets in 12 First Class matches and 18 wickets in 12 List A fixtures. Despite his limited T20 exposure, his first-class record suggests a bowler with the ability to extract turn and bounce. He has batted only once in his four T20 matches, indicating that his primary value to the team is with the ball.

Mumbai Indians Ring Changes for Must-Win Clash

For the crucial encounter against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians made a couple of changes to their playing XI. They dropped Punjab-based fast bowler Ashwani Kumar and brought in Krish Bhagat, who also represents Punjab in domestic cricket. Meanwhile, veteran opener Rohit Sharma continues to remain on the sidelines. The 39-year-old right-handed batter last played for Mumbai Indians on April 12, 2026, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Wankhede Stadium, where he suffered a hamstring injury while batting.

Chennai Super Kings Ring Three Changes

Chennai Super Kings also made three changes to their playing XI for Saturday's match. Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, and Prashant Veer were brought into the side, replacing Akeal Hosein, Sarfaraz Khan, and Gurjapneet Singh. Notably, Akeal Hosein had picked up four wickets for Chennai Super Kings in their last IPL match against Mumbai Indians, making his omission a significant decision.

What This Debut Means for Raghu and Mumbai Indians

For Raghu Sharma, this debut is the culmination of years of domestic cricket and a patient wait after being signed as a replacement. For Mumbai Indians, the decision to hand a debut to a 33-year-old leg spinner in a must-win game underscores the team's search for bowling options amid a challenging season. With Rohit Sharma still injured and the team needing to win to keep playoff hopes alive, every selection decision carries weight.

The bottom line

• Raghu Sharma, 33, made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians on May 2, 2026, after being signed as a replacement in 2025.
• He has 4 wickets in 4 T20 matches, but a strong first-class record with 57 wickets in 12 matches.
• Mumbai Indians dropped Ashwani Kumar and brought in Krish Bhagat for the match against Chennai Super Kings.
• Rohit Sharma remains out with a hamstring injury suffered on April 12.
• Chennai Super Kings made three changes, including dropping Akeal Hosein who took four wickets in their last match against Mumbai Indians.
• Raghu will be used as an impact substitute, coming into action in the second half of the match.