Karn Sharma is often remembered for his unexpected Test debut at Adelaide in 2014, where he was handed a challenging initiation into red-ball cricket against Australia. Replacing the experienced Ravichandran Ashwin, Karn faced heavy scrutiny and endured a difficult outing despite conditions offering some assistance to spin. While that Test proved forgettable, 2014 was otherwise a breakthrough year for the leg-spinner. Strong performances in the IPL saw him outshine senior peers and earn his international debut later that year on India’s tour of England, featuring first in T20Is and then in ODIs.

A classical wrist-spinner, Karn adds value with his clean striking down the order, often contributing useful late-order cameos. Interestingly, he began his first-class career in 2007 as a specialist batsman and even scored a century on debut. Over time, he transitioned into a bowling all-rounder, with his batting background aiding his confidence and effectiveness lower down the order.

Karn’s growth in domestic cricket has been steady. While questions were raised about his temperament and readiness for the longer format during his early years—particularly around 2014—he has since matured as a cricketer. With wrist spin becoming increasingly influential in modern cricket and his utility in white-ball formats, Karn remains a viable option whenever opportunities arise.

Karn Sharma has been a consistent presence in the IPL and achieved the rare distinction of being part of consecutive title-winning teams—Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016 and Mumbai Indians in 2017. He began his IPL journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013, taking 11 wickets in his debut season. His standout year came in 2014 when he claimed 15 wickets, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker. After a decent 2015, he endured a lean 2016 season.

Mumbai Indians signed him in 2017, where he picked up 13 wickets before being released. Chennai Super Kings later acquired him in search of an Indian leg-spinner, though he struggled to cement a regular spot. Despite his batting ability, Karn found limited opportunities to showcase his full skill set.

He returned to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023, taking 10 wickets in seven matches and playing a useful supporting role. Retained for the 2024 season, he managed seven wickets in nine games before making way for other spin options. In the 2025 IPL season, Karn Sharma will represent Mumbai Indians once again.