Karn Sharma retires from international and Indian domestic cricket

Karn Sharma, the 38-year-old Railways leg-spinner, announced on Saturday night that he will retire from international and Indian domestic cricket 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.

Karn finished his international career with one Test, two ODIs and one T20I for India. He made his first-class, List A and T20 debuts in the 2007-08 domestic season and initially developed as an all-rounder, marking his Ranji Trophy debut with a century. His breakthrough came in 2012-13 when he took 21 wickets at an average of 19.04 in three Ranji Trophy matches and received the BCCI's Best Under-25 Cricketer award, performances that led to 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 that auction. His domestic and IPL form earned him selection in India's limited-overs squad for the 2014 tour of England and he made his T20I debut on that tour, dismissing 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 match in which Rohit Sharma scored 264; Karn played one more ODI in the series but went wicketless in both matches.

Later in 2014 he made his Test debut against Australia in Adelaide, taking two wickets in each innings for a match total of four in what proved to be his only Test appearance. That match was also his final international assignment. He 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.

Karn enjoyed considerable success in the IPL, becoming 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. During that period he also moved between domestic teams, representing Vidarbha in 2017-18 and Andhra in 2018-19 before returning to Railways. His last IPL appearance came for Mumbai Indians in 2025 and he remained part of the Railways setup across formats during the 2025-26 domestic season.

Karn retires with 270 wickets in 97 first-class matches at an average of 27.60, including 14 five-wicket hauls, and 2,866 runs in 138 innings with two centuries and 17 fifties. In 123 List A matches he claimed 153 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls, and scored one century and six half-centuries. His T20 record stands at 168 wickets in 191 matches, including 83 wickets in 90 IPL appearances, and he registered two fifties in T20 cricket.

"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."