Chetan Sharma is a former Indian international cricketer, right-arm fast-medium bowler and lower-order batter whose career stretched from the early 1980s into the 1990s. Born on January 3, 1966, in Ludhiana, Punjab, he represented India in 23 Tests and 65 ODIs. His most famous achievement came at the 1987 Cricket World Cup, when he took the tournament’s first-ever hat-trick against New Zealand. He was also part of India’s 1985 World Championship of Cricket-winning squad and later moved into commentary, cricket administration and national selection. In 2020, the BCCI appointed him chairman of the senior men’s selection committee, a role he held in two spells before resigning in February 2023.
Chetan Sharma Career Stats
| Format | Career | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Bat Avg | 50s | 100s | Wickets | BBI | Bowl Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TESTReconciled source snapshot | 1984–1989 | 23 | 27 | 396 | 54 | 22.00 | 1 | 0 | 61 | 6/58 | 35.45 |
| ODIRecorded matches only | 1983–1994 | 30 | 30 | 202 | 38 | 20.20 | 0 | 0 | 26 | — | 41.35 |
This compact table is rendered directly from the shared per-format source selection; recorded-only rows are explicitly labelled. Detailed opponent, venue, year and dismissal analysis remains on the full stats page.
Chetan Sharma
/cricket-player/chetan-sharma/Each format uses one source consistently. Recorded-only figures are labelled separately.
Reconciled source snapshot
Recorded matches only
Chetan Sharma Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Chetan Sharma |
| Born | January 3, 1966 |
| Birthplace | Ludhiana, Punjab, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Batting style | Right-handed |
| Bowling style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Primary role | Fast bowler / bowling all-rounder |
| India ODI debut | December 7, 1983 vs West Indies |
| India Test debut | October 17, 1984 vs Pakistan |
| Last Test | May 3, 1989 vs West Indies |
| Last ODI | November 11, 1994 vs West Indies |
| Test matches | 23 |
| Test wickets | 61 |
| ODI matches | 65 |
| ODI wickets | 67 |
| Test best bowling | 6/58 |
| ODI best bowling | 3/22 |
| ODI highest score | 101* |
| First-class matches | 121 |
| First-class wickets | 433 |
| List A matches | 107 |
| List A wickets | 115 |
| Famous record | First bowler to take a Cricket World Cup hat-trick |
| Major domestic teams | Haryana, Bengal |
| International team | India |
| Uncle | Yashpal Sharma |
| Chief selector | BCCI senior men’s selection committee, 2020–2023 |
The career statistics and domestic-team chronology are supported by CricketArchive and other cricket statistical records.
Chetan Sharma’s Childhood in Ludhiana and Early Cricket
Chetan Sharma was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, on January 3, 1966. His route into serious cricket began unusually early. In an interview with The Indian Express, Sharma recalled that coach Desh Prem Azad saw him bowling at DAV Senior Secondary School and invited him for trials when Sharma was only nine. The following year, he captained a Kapil Dev XI in an Under-12 tournament, which his team won. Sharma later credited Azad and the encouragement he received from Kapil Dev as important influences during his formative years.
Desh Prem Azad’s Influence
Desh Prem Azad, a prominent Indian cricket coach and Dronacharya Award recipient, became an important figure in Sharma’s development. Sharma trained alongside other players who went on to represent India, including Kapil Dev, Yograj Singh and Ashok Malhotra. His early exposure to high-level coaching helped accelerate his development as a fast bowler.
Early Development at a Glance
- Born in Ludhiana in 1966.
- Began organized cricket training at a very young age.
- Came under the coaching of Desh Prem Azad.
- Played in age-group cricket before reaching senior cricket.
- Captained a Kapil Dev XI in an Under-12 tournament.
- Developed as a right-arm fast-medium bowler.
- Reached first-class cricket as a teenager.
Chetan Sharma’s Family and Cricketing Connection
Chetan Sharma comes from a cricket-connected family. His uncle was former India batter Yashpal Sharma, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team. CricketArchive also records Yashpal Sharma as Chetan’s uncle.
Public sources provide less consistently verified information about Sharma’s parents, siblings and immediate family than they do about his cricket career. Some biographical sites identify his father as Manak Ram Sharma and list a brother, but these details are not supported by the same level of primary or cricket-database evidence as his professional record. They are therefore not treated as definitive facts here.
Yashpal Sharma and Chetan Sharma
The relationship with Yashpal Sharma is particularly relevant to Chetan’s cricket story because both became India internationals from northern India. Yashpal had already established himself at international level before Chetan’s rise, giving the younger Sharma a direct family connection to India’s cricket environment.
Chetan Sharma’s Education and Cricket Training
Election-affidavit records from Sharma’s 2009 Lok Sabha candidacy state that he attended DAV School, Sector 7, Chandigarh, and completed a Bachelor of Arts from Kurukshetra University in 1986. Because these details come from his own electoral affidavit, they are stronger evidence than unsourced biography-site claims.
His cricket education was closely tied to the coaching system around Chandigarh and Haryana. His own account identifies Desh Prem Azad as a formative coach and places his early development at DAV Senior Secondary School.
Chetan Sharma’s Domestic Career With Haryana and Bengal
Sharma entered first-class cricket as a teenager and built the foundation of his professional career with Haryana. CricketArchive records his main first-class association with Haryana from 1982/83 through 1992/93, followed by Bengal from 1993/94 through 1996/97.
His domestic career eventually produced 121 first-class matches, 3,714 runs and 433 wickets, with a first-class best bowling performance of 7/72. In List A cricket, he played 107 matches, scored 852 runs and took 115 wickets.
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Domestic Career Timeline
| Period | Team / Level | Career development |
|---|---|---|
| 1982/83 | Haryana | First-class career begins |
| 1983/84 | Haryana / India pathway | List A and ODI progression |
| 1984/85 | Haryana / India | Test debut |
| 1980s | Haryana | Established domestic and international fast bowler |
| 1992/93 | Haryana | End of main Haryana FC period |
| 1993/94 | Bengal | Joined Bengal |
| 1993/94–1996/97 | Bengal | Continued first-class/List A career |
| 1996/97 | Bengal | End of recorded main domestic career |
The team chronology is based on CricketArchive’s player record.
Chetan Sharma’s India ODI Career
Chetan Sharma made his ODI debut against the West Indies at Jamshedpur on December 7, 1983. He went on to play 65 ODIs for India between 1983 and 1994, taking 67 wickets and scoring 456 runs. His ODI bowling best was 3/22, while his highest score was an unbeaten 101.
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His ODI career was unusual because his most memorable contribution was not simply his bowling figures. He became associated with several high-profile moments, including the 1987 World Cup hat-trick, the 1986 Sharjah final against Pakistan and his unexpected century against England in the 1989 Nehru Cup.
Chetan Sharma’s Test Career
Sharma made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lahore on October 17, 1984. He played 23 Tests, taking 61 wickets at a bowling average of 35.45, with four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match. His best Test innings figures were 6/58.
Explore Chetan Sharma's complete Test stats
His Test batting was secondary to his bowling role, but he scored 396 runs, including a highest score of 54. His final Test came against West Indies at Sabina Park in May 1989.
Test Career Summary
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 23 |
| Runs | 396 |
| Batting average | 22.00 |
| Highest score | 54 |
| Wickets | 61 |
| Bowling average | 35.45 |
| Best bowling | 6/58 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 4 |
| Ten-wicket matches | 1 |
| Catches | 7 |
Chetan Sharma at the 1985 World Championship of Cricket
Sharma was part of the Indian squad that won the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia. India defeated Pakistan by eight wickets in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 10, 1985. Sharma replaced Roger Binny for the final and bowled an economical spell as India restricted Pakistan to 176/9 before winning with 177/2.
The tournament was significant because it brought together several of the leading limited-overs teams of the period. India eventually won the only edition of the World Championship of Cricket.
Chetan Sharma and the 1986 Sharjah Final
One of the most discussed moments of Sharma’s career came in the Austral-Asia Cup final against Pakistan at Sharjah in 1986. Pakistan required four runs from the final delivery, and Sharma bowled a low full toss that Javed Miandad hit for six.
The result gave Pakistan victory on the final ball and became one of the defining memories associated with Sharma’s international career. It is important, however, to view the incident alongside the rest of his career rather than treating one delivery as a complete description of his bowling record.
Chetan Sharma’s 6/58 Against England
Sharma’s Test bowling reached one of its strongest points during India’s 1986 tour of England. In the third Test at Edgbaston, England made 390 in the first innings, while Sharma took 4/130. In England’s second innings, he produced 6/58 from 24 overs. The match ended in a draw.
His 6/58 remained his best Test innings figures and was one of four five-wicket hauls he collected in Tests.
Chetan Sharma’s 1987 World Cup Hat-Trick
The defining achievement of Chetan Sharma’s playing career came at the 1987 Cricket World Cup in Nagpur.
Against New Zealand, Sharma dismissed Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield with three consecutive deliveries, all three wickets coming through bowled dismissals. The achievement was the first-ever hat-trick in Cricket World Cup history. It was also the first World Cup hat-trick by an Indian bowler.
1987 World Cup Hat-Trick — Match Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | 1987 Cricket World Cup |
| Opposition | New Zealand |
| Venue | Nagpur |
| Wicket 1 | Ken Rutherford |
| Wicket 2 | Ian Smith |
| Wicket 3 | Ewen Chatfield |
| Dismissals | All bowled |
| Historical distinction | First-ever Cricket World Cup hat-trick |
| Significance | First World Cup hat-trick by an Indian |
ICC records that Sharma’s three wickets helped India restrict New Zealand to 221/9 in the match.
What Sharma Said About the Hat-Trick
In an ICC interview recalling the achievement, Sharma explained that fast bowlers dream about taking five or ten wickets but do not necessarily expect to take a hat-trick. He also recalled Kapil Dev encouraging him to bowl straight at Chatfield after the first two wickets.
The performance remains one of the most distinctive statistical milestones in India’s World Cup history. ICC’s historical review still identifies Sharma as the bowler responsible for the first World Cup hat-trick.
Chetan Sharma’s 101* Against England in 1989
Sharma’s international batting produced one of the more unexpected innings of his career during the 1989 Nehru Cup against England at Kanpur.
India were chasing 256, and Sharma was promoted up the order. He finished unbeaten on 101 from 96 balls, with eight fours and one six, as India reached 259/4 and won by six wickets. The official scorecard lists Sharma as Player of the Match.
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Defining ODI Performance
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Competition | Nehru Cup 1989/90 |
| Date | October 25, 1989 |
| Opposition | England |
| Venue | Kanpur |
| Score | 101* |
| Balls | 96 |
| Fours | 8 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| India total | 259/4 |
| Result | India won by 6 wickets |
| Award | Player of the Match |
The Guardian later highlighted the innings as an extraordinary outlier in Sharma’s ODI batting record.
Chetan Sharma’s Later International Career and Move to Bengal
After the 1989 Nehru Cup, Sharma’s international opportunities became less frequent. His last Test came in 1989, while he continued playing ODIs into the 1990s. CricketArchive records his international ODI career through the 1994/95 season and his move from Haryana to Bengal for the 1993/94 domestic season.
His final ODI appearance came against West Indies at Jaipur on November 11, 1994. He continued his domestic career with Bengal into the 1996/97 season.
Chetan Sharma’s Career Records and Milestones
| Record / Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| World Cup record | First-ever Cricket World Cup hat-trick |
| India ODI milestone | First Indian to take an ODI hat-trick |
| Test wickets | 61 |
| ODI wickets | 67 |
| International wickets | 128 |
| Test best | 6/58 |
| ODI best | 3/22 |
| ODI century | 101* vs England |
| First-class wickets | 433 |
| List A wickets | 115 |
| First-class best bowling | 7/72 |
| First-class centuries | 3 |
Chetan Sharma’s Playing Style
Sharma was a right-arm fast-medium bowler who operated primarily as a specialist seamer rather than as a frontline batting all-rounder. His international record shows the distinction clearly: he took 128 wickets across 23 Tests and 65 ODIs while contributing 852 List A runs and 3,714 first-class runs.
His career also shows that he could contribute with the bat when circumstances demanded it. The 101* against England in 1989 is the clearest example, while his first-class record includes three centuries and a highest score of 114*.
Chetan Sharma’s Awards and Recognition
CricketArchive records Sharma as the recipient of the Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year award in 1984. His most historically significant cricket distinction remains his 1987 World Cup hat-trick.
His career therefore combines several different achievements:
- International cricket at a young age.
- Participation in India’s 1985 World Championship-winning side.
- A Test best of 6/58.
- The first Cricket World Cup hat-trick.
- An ODI century against England.
- 61 Test wickets and 67 ODI wickets.
- More than 400 first-class wickets.
Chetan Sharma After Playing Cricket
After his playing career, Sharma moved into cricket commentary and television analysis. He also established a fast-bowling academy in Panchkula in 2004; published biographical sources report that the academy closed in 2009.
His post-playing career eventually moved into administration when he became chairman of India’s senior men’s selection committee.
Chetan Sharma’s Political Career
Sharma also entered electoral politics. In the 2009 Lok Sabha election, he contested the Faridabad constituency as a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate. His election affidavit recorded him as a graduate and included his declared financial information at that time.
Contemporary reporting subsequently documented that Sharma left the BSP and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in September 2009. These are historical facts about his political activities rather than an assessment of his political views or performance.
Chetan Sharma as BCCI Chief Selector
The BCCI appointed Sharma chairman of the senior men’s selection committee in December 2020. The board stated that the Cricket Advisory Committee recommended him for the chairman’s position based on seniority in Test matches.
His first selection-panel tenure continued until the BCCI replaced the entire senior selection committee in November 2022. Sharma then reapplied and was reappointed chairman in January 2023. The BCCI’s January 7 announcement named Sharma along with Shiv Sundar Das, Subroto Banerjee, Salil Ankola and Sridharan Sharath.
Selection Committee Timeline
| Date / Period | Role |
|---|---|
| Dec. 2020 | Appointed chairman of senior men’s selection committee |
| Nov. 2022 | Existing panel removed by BCCI |
| Jan. 7, 2023 | Reappointed chairman |
| Feb. 17, 2023 | Resigned as chairman |
| 2023 onward | No longer India’s chief selector |
Chetan Sharma’s 2023 Resignation as Chief Selector
In February 2023, a television sting operation became the subject of extensive reporting after Sharma was recorded discussing confidential matters concerning Indian cricket. He resigned as chairman of the senior men’s selection committee on February 17, 2023, and the resignation was accepted by BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
Reports about the episode included his comments concerning player fitness, selection matters and the relationship between former India captain Virat Kohli and former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly. Because these were remarks attributed to a secretly recorded conversation, the details should be distinguished from independently established facts about the players or administrators he discussed.
In 2024, Sharma publicly addressed the controversy again, saying that he regarded Kohli like a son and would not say bad things about him.
Chetan Sharma’s Current Status
As of September 29, 2026, Chetan Sharma is a former India cricketer and former BCCI senior men’s chief selector. He has not held India’s chief-selector position since resigning in February 2023. Ajit Agarkar subsequently became chairman of the senior men’s selection committee in July 2023.
Sharma has remained publicly connected with cricket after leaving the BCCI selection committee. In August 2025, India Today reported comments from him regarding Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management, describing him as a former India fast bowler.
His present public cricket identity is therefore primarily that of a former international fast bowler, former national selector and cricket commentator/analyst rather than an active player or current BCCI selector.
Chetan Sharma Career Timeline
| Year / Period | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1966 | Born in Ludhiana, Punjab |
| Childhood | Began organized cricket and trained under D.P. Azad |
| 1982/83 | First-class career with Haryana |
| 1983 | ODI debut for India |
| 1984 | Test debut against Pakistan |
| 1984 | Named Indian Cricket Cricketer of the Year |
| 1985 | Part of India’s World Championship of Cricket-winning side |
| 1986 | Took 6/58 against England at Edgbaston |
| 1986 | Bowled final over of famous Sharjah final against Pakistan |
| 1987 | Took first-ever World Cup hat-trick |
| 1989 | Scored 101* against England in Kanpur |
| 1989 | Played final Test |
| 1993/94 | Moved from Haryana to Bengal |
| 1994 | Played final ODI |
| 1996/97 | End of recorded Bengal domestic career |
| 2004 | Opened fast-bowling academy in Panchkula |
| 2009 | Contested Faridabad Lok Sabha election |
| 2020 | Appointed BCCI senior men’s selection committee chairman |
| 2022 | Selection panel removed |
| Jan. 2023 | Reappointed chairman |
| Feb. 2023 | Resigned as chairman |
| 2025 | Continued appearing publicly as a former India player/commentator |
Chetan Sharma FAQs
How old is Chetan Sharma?
Chetan Sharma was born on January 3, 1966. He turned 60 in January 2026.
What is Chetan Sharma famous for?
He is best known for taking the first-ever Cricket World Cup hat-trick, against New Zealand at the 1987 World Cup in Nagpur.
How many Tests did Chetan Sharma play?
He played 23 Tests for India and took 61 wickets.
How many ODIs did Chetan Sharma play?
He played 65 ODIs and took 67 wickets. He also scored 456 ODI runs, including an unbeaten 101.
What was Chetan Sharma’s highest ODI score?
His highest ODI score was 101 not out against England in the 1989 Nehru Cup at Kanpur.
What was Chetan Sharma’s best Test bowling?
His best Test figures were 6/58, achieved against England at Edgbaston in 1986.
Is Chetan Sharma related to Yashpal Sharma?
Yes. CricketArchive records former India cricketer Yashpal Sharma as Chetan Sharma’s uncle.
Did Chetan Sharma play in the IPL?
No. The available career records show no IPL or T20 career for him; the IPL began in 2008, after his playing career had ended.
What happened to Chetan Sharma as chief selector?
He was appointed chairman of India’s senior men’s selection committee in 2020, reappointed in January 2023 after the earlier panel was removed, and resigned on February 17, 2023 following a television sting-operation controversy.
What is Chetan Sharma’s net worth?
No dependable current net-worth figure could be independently verified from authoritative financial sources. His 2009 election affidavit contains historical declared assets and liabilities, but those figures should not be presented as his current net worth.
Chetan Sharma Biography Conclusion
Conclusion
Chetan Sharma’s career combines a historic 1987 World Cup hat-trick, 128 international wickets, a memorable ODI century and more than 500 wickets across first-class and List A cricket. After retiring as a player, he remained involved in Indian cricket through commentary and selection administration, including two spells as chairman of the BCCI senior men’s selection committee. His first World Cup hat-trick remains the defining milestone of his international career.