Despite playing only 15 first-class games, Karan Sharma showcased remarkable composure and a sense of responsibility at the Wankhede on Monday, reminiscent of a seasoned player with 100 games under his belt. Uttar Pradesh heavily relied on their 25-year-old middle-order batsman as he overcame both injury and the regular loss of wickets at the opposite end, leading his team to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Mumbai in their Elite Group B Ranji game.
Sharma demonstrated resilience and discipline in the face of adversity against Mumbai, a powerhouse in domestic cricket. Standing firm on a deteriorating Day 4 wicket, he faced Mumbai spinners who were extracting sharp turn. Reflecting on his performance, Sharma remarked, “It was one of my best knocks.”
“I tried earlier too to help UP win. It’s special because it’s come after a long time. I was going through a lean patch and struggling a bit, but obviously in such a situation, scoring for the team and helping UP win feels great,” Sharma said. He delivered a couple of big hits when they were needed most in a thrilling finish.
The situation became challenging for Karan Sharma as he had to exit the pitch during a well-compiled innings due to a wrist injury, which progressively worsened. He retired hurt at 47 with the team’s total at 145 for 4, needing just 50 more runs for victory, making the win seem imminent. However, he had to return when UP collapsed to 154 for seven, only nine runs later. After taking an injection to alleviate the pain, he resumed his fight.
Teaming up with Akshdeep Nath, Sharma faced relentless attacks from Mumbai spinners Shams Mulai and Tanush Kotian. “The injury had been going on for a while, and during the game, it got worse as I kept batting. So I retired hurt. When I went off, Nitish (Rana, the skipper) bhai told me that I had to go back no matter what. He motivated me a lot, and when the captain says that, as a player, you know you have to do it for the team. When I felt a bit better and that I could defend, I knew I could do it,” said Sharma after UP secured a much-needed outright win.
Despite visible discomfort, he could only adopt a defensive stance due to limited movement in his left hand and an inability to grip the bat properly. Consequently, he went 24 balls without scoring a run. However, when Akshdeep got out, Sharma had no choice but to open up and continue the battle.
“When Aksh got out, I mustered some courage and told myself I have to do it somehow. I held the bat very tight, and the situation was such that I had to take that chance. Luckily, there was an off-spinner bowling, and I thought I’ll swing no matter what,” he recalled. He remained unbeaten on 67 as UP reached the 195-run target in the 70th over.
Needing 19 runs with only two wickets remaining, Karan Sharma exhibited great courage by aggressively swinging the bat. Despite Mumbai having fielders on the boundary line, he successfully cleared them, securing Uttar Pradesh’s second outright win at the Wankhede. This remarkable achievement was made possible by the determined and resilient efforts of a young player who defied both pain and adversity.
