Brijesh Sharma made his IPL debut on Monday after being included in the playing XI. Rajasthan Royals For their match against Chennai Super Kings.The Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler was picked up by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026 auction at a base price of Rs 30 lakh. At that time he had not played senior cricket in any format but his performance in the 2025 Bengal Pro T20 League brought him into the limelight.A right-arm medium fast bowler, Sharma finished joint fifth on the wicket-taking list in the tournament, taking 11 wickets in seven matches while playing for Smashers Malda.
Jammu and Kashmir via Bengal to RR
His journey in professional cricket has been through many challenges. He grew up as the son of a laborer in the Dundyal area and faced financial problems while pursuing the sport. He started off by representing Jammu and Kashmir at the U-19 and U-25 levels.To improve his game, he later moved to Delhi, where he trained at Unique Sports Club under Deepak Punia. The shift helped him develop better control and prepare him for higher levels of competition.His performance in the Bengal Pro T20 League in 2025 played a key role in his rise. Playing at Eden Gardens, he was among the leading wicket-takers and showed his ability in both the powerplay and the final overs, taking 11 wickets in seven matches.This run led to his selection by Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2026. Brijesh Sharma’s impact goes beyond his statistics. These days, following in the footsteps of regional icons like Imran Malik and Aqib Nabi, he has become a symbol of hope for the aspiring cricketers of Jammu and Kashmir.In the match, Rajasthan Royals won the toss and decided to bowl against Chennai Super Kings. Indian Premier League Opener here on Monday.Royals have beaten CSK four times in their last five matches. Both teams struggled in the 2025 season.CSK are without the charismatic MS Dhoni, who is out for at least two weeks with a calf injury.Follow the live updates.Teams:Chennai Super Kings: Rituraj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wicket), Ayush Mahatre, Matt Short, Shivm Dubey, Karthik Sharma, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmed, Matt Henry, Anshul Kamboj, and Khalil Ahmed.Rajasthan Royals: Ryan Prag (c), Vibhu Suryavanshi, Yashvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jural (wicket), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, and Brijesh Sharma.
