IPL Star Raghu Sharma Gives Credit To MS Dhoni Hours After Thanking Mumbai Indians

Raghu Sharma Credits MS Dhoni For IPL Success [Source: AP, AFP]

Mumbai Indians’ leg-spinner Raghu Sharma scalped his maiden IPL wicket during a recent clash against LSG at the Wankhede Stadium. However, apart from MI, Raghu also gave credit for his success to MS Dhoni.

Raghu, 33, was signed by MI as an injury replacement last year and was retained for the IPL 2026 season subsequently. On May 4, he played the second game of his IPL career and made an impact by dismissing Akshat Raghuvanshi.

Raghu Sharma credits MS Dhoni for his cricketing journey

Despite coming from a family background of engineers and doctors, Raghu Sharma chose the unconventional path of becoming a cricketer after getting inspired by former Indian captain MS Dhoni.

In a post-match interview, Raghu said he weighed over 100 kgs, but MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup-winning six inspired him to pursue cricket seriously.

"I will just speak about how I was in 2011. We have a family background where everyone is an engineer or a doctor. I am also an electrical engineer. But I was not that fit. I was around 102 kgs. Still, I worked hard. When MS Dhoni sir hit that six, it gave me the determination that I can also do this. But my father said, you can’t do this because you are overweight. You have to run and do a lot of hard work. Cricket is not for you," Raghu Sharma said.

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While his dad didn’t support him initially, Raghu’s determination eventually paid off as he achieved an IPL wicket after 15 years of hard work and struggle.

"I started at 21, so all age-group cricket was finished for me. But I was very determined and focused on my target that I will definitely do everything. I slowly, steadily did it, and learned a lot through experience. I played in Sri Lanka, and I played county cricket in England. So, there I got a lot of experience," he added.

Raghu decodes his message after maiden IPL wicket

Interestingly, after picking up his maiden IPL wicket vs LSG, Mumbai Indian spinner Raghu Sharma pulled out a paper which said, “Radhe Radhe. A very painful 15 years, by divine mercy of Gurudeva, ended today. Thanks, Mumbai Indians (Blue and Gold), for giving me this opportunity. Ever grateful. Jai Shri Ram.”

Explaining the meaning behind this, Raghu said he was a late bloomer, and his journey wasn’t easy. Hence, he wanted to thank everyone who stood by him and helped him turn his dream into a reality.

"It ’s a dream come true for me that I got a maiden IPL wicket. First of all, I just want to thank my Gurudev, my spiritual guru. He is Shri Shyam Das. And my mother and father for supporting me. I was like, if I take a wicket, I will definitely put that (note) out. I just want to thank the Mumbai Indians because it has been a painful 15 years for me - how I started cricket, and a lot of things happened in my life as well,” Raghu also said.

Mumbai Indians end painful losing streak

That being said, the Mumbai Indians finally snapped out of their losing streak by beating LSG at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a steep total of 229 runs, openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton wreaked havoc.

The duo stitched a 143-run partnership where Rohit scored 84 off 44 balls while Rickelton hammered 83 off just 32 balls. Naman Dhir’s 23 off 12 balls guided the Mumbai Indians to a 6-wicket victory with 8 balls to spare.

However, despite the victory, MI are still stuck at the ninth spot on the points table. Their playoff qualification scenario is down to a mathematical possibility, and the franchise surely needs a miracle from here to somehow stay alive in the playoff race. 

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