Sandeep Sharma
Role: Bowler
DOB: 18 May 1993
IPL Team (2026): Rajasthan Royals
Base Price: ₹50 Lakhs
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 125 | 29 | 15 | 65 | 14* | 4.64 | 73 | 89.04 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 39 |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1* | – | 1 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1* | – | 2 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1* | 1.00 | 1 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2020 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 10* | 11.00 | 11 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3* | 4.00 | 4 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2018 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 7.00 | 12 | 116.66 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 | 13 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 7* | 4.00 | 10 | 120.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2016 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 7* | 5.50 | 11 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 7* | 4.50 | 10 | 90.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 9* | 5.00 | 11 | 90.90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2013 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 125 | 2700 | 3405 | 139 | 5/18 | 24.50 | 7.57 | 19.50 | 4 | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 240 | 338 | 13 | 5/18 | 26.00 | 8.45 | 18.46 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 12 | 264 | 379 | 10 | 3/31 | 37.90 | 8.61 | 26.40 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 108 | 173 | 2 | 1/21 | 86.50 | 9.61 | 54.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 258 | 341 | 7 | 2/20 | 48.71 | 7.93 | 36.85 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 13 | 288 | 345 | 14 | 3/34 | 24.64 | 7.18 | 20.57 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 240 | 313 | 12 | 3/20 | 26.08 | 7.82 | 20.00 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 12 | 270 | 360 | 12 | 2/20 | 30.00 | 8.00 | 22.50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 13 | 300 | 414 | 17 | 4/20 | 24.35 | 8.28 | 17.64 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 318 | 393 | 15 | 4/20 | 26.20 | 7.41 | 21.20 | 1 | 0 |
| 2015 | 14 | 318 | 423 | 13 | 4/25 | 32.53 | 7.98 | 24.46 | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 | 11 | 240 | 295 | 18 | 3/15 | 16.38 | 7.37 | 13.33 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 4 | 90 | 113 | 8 | 3/21 | 14.12 | 7.53 | 11.25 | 0 | 0 |
The Story of Sandeep Sharma
Hailing from Patiala, Punjab, Sandeep Sharma isn’t your typical express pace merchant. Instead, he’s a master craftsman, a swing bowler par excellence who has quietly carved out a legendary IPL career. His journey began with a bang, as part of India’s victorious U19 World Cup squad in 2012, where his ability to move the new ball caught the eye of scouts. It wasn’t long before the IPL came calling, with Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) picking him up in 2013.
Sandeep’s breakthrough season arrived in 2014, where he became a vital cog in KXIP’s run to the final. His knack for picking up early wickets in the powerplay, coupled with his deceptive slower balls and pinpoint yorkers at the death, made him an indispensable asset. He doesn’t rely on raw speed but rather on immaculate line and length, subtle variations, and the ability to swing the ball both ways. This cerebral approach to fast bowling has allowed him to thrive on pitches that offer even a hint of assistance, making him a perennial threat.
Over the years, Sandeep has remained an unsung hero, consistently delivering under pressure. His calm demeanor belies a fierce competitor, and his ability to outsmart batsmen with guile rather than brute force is a testament to his skill. Whether it’s dismantling a top order with swing or nailing yorkers in the death overs, Sandeep Sharma has proven time and again that precision and craft can trump pace in the high-octane world of the IPL.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Sandeep Sharma’s IPL career has seen him don the jerseys of three franchises, each time leaving his indelible mark:
- Kings XI Punjab (2013-2017): This was Sandeep’s formative period. Bought for ₹10 Lakhs in 2013, he quickly became a frontline bowler. His 18 wickets in 2014 were crucial for KXIP’s finalist campaign. He consistently picked up wickets, with 13 in 2015, 15 in 2016, and a career-best 17 in 2017, including a memorable hat-trick. He was a cornerstone of their bowling attack.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018-2021): After being bought by SRH for ₹3 Crore in the 2018 auction, Sandeep continued his role as a new-ball and death-overs specialist. He formed a formidable partnership with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, often complementing each other perfectly. He took 12 wickets in both 2018 and 2019, and a strong 14 wickets in 2020 with an excellent economy of 7.18, showcasing his enduring quality.
- Punjab Kings (2022): After going unsold in the mega-auction, Sandeep was later picked up by his former team, Punjab Kings, as a replacement player. His stint was brief, playing 5 matches and picking up 2 wickets, as he struggled to find his rhythm in a new setup.
- Rajasthan Royals (2023-Present): In a surprising turn, Sandeep went unsold in the 2023 auction. However, fate intervened when Prasidh Krishna was injured, and RR signed Sandeep as a replacement for ₹50 Lakhs. He proved to be an inspired choice, delivering crucial performances, especially in the death overs, and becoming a vital part of RR’s bowling attack, continuing his excellent form into 2024 with a career-best 5-wicket haul.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
Sandeep Sharma is a bowler who offers unique betting opportunities due to his specific skillset:
- Powerplay Prowess: Sandeep is one of the most effective powerplay bowlers in IPL history. His ability to swing the new ball and pick up early wickets makes him a strong bet for “Sandeep Sharma to take 1+ wicket in the first 6 overs” or “Sandeep Sharma to be the highest wicket-taker in the powerplay” on pitches offering some movement.
- Death Over Deception: Despite lacking raw pace, his mastery of slower balls, knuckleballs, and pinpoint yorkers makes him a reliable death bowler. He can be a good pick for “Sandeep Sharma to take 1+ wicket in the last 4 overs” if his team bowls second and the pitch is holding up.
- Conditions are Key: He thrives on pitches with a hint of swing or seam movement. On flat, true surfaces, his lack of pace can make him vulnerable to big hitters. Bet on him when conditions favor swing or when the opposition’s top order is susceptible to early movement. Bet against his economy on small grounds with flat tracks.
- Matchup Play: Sandeep has a good record against many top-order batsmen who struggle with inswing or subtle variations. Look for matchups where he bowls to batsmen known for struggling against swing. Conversely, aggressive power-hitters who can muscle the ball regardless of pace might target him.
- Consistency vs. Explosiveness: While not a frequent 4 or 5-wicket haul bowler (until 2024!), he’s consistently picked up 1-2 wickets per game in his prime. This makes “Sandeep Sharma to take Over X.5 wickets” a safer bet than expecting a massive haul, though his 5/18 in 2024 shows he can still have explosive days.
Key Records & Milestones
- One of only two bowlers in IPL history to dismiss Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni in the same IPL season (2017).
- Took a hat-trick against Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2017, dismissing Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.
- One of the most prolific wicket-takers in the IPL powerplay, consistently featuring among the top bowlers for early breakthroughs.
- Crossed the milestone of 100 IPL wickets in 2020, and currently stands with 139 wickets, making him one of the top 10 all-time IPL wicket-takers.
- Achieved his career-best bowling figures of 5/18 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.
IPL Season Highlights
Sandeep Sharma has delivered numerous impactful performances throughout his IPL career:
- 2014 (Kings XI Punjab): A breakout year where he claimed 18 wickets at an impressive average of 16.38 and an economy of 7.37. His consistent early wickets were instrumental in KXIP reaching their first-ever IPL final.
- 2017 (Kings XI Punjab): Took 17 wickets, including a memorable hat-trick against RCB (4/20). In that same season, he achieved the rare feat of dismissing IPL giants Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and MS Dhoni, showcasing his ability to trouble the best in the business.
- 2020 (Sunrisers Hyderabad): A highly effective season where he picked up 14 wickets with an excellent economy rate of 7.18. He was a key component of SRH’s bowling attack, often delivering crucial spells in the powerplay and death overs.
- 2024 (Rajasthan Royals): After a strong comeback season in 2023, Sandeep continued to shine for RR in 2024. His standout performance was a sensational 5/18 against Mumbai Indians, single-handedly turning the tide and securing a dominant victory for his team. This performance marked his first five-wicket haul in the IPL, proving his enduring class and ability to deliver match-winning spells.