The IPL has provided many cricketers with a launching pad to showcase their talents, while simultaneously making them visible overseas. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya are prime examples; both made their mark in the IPL before joining the Indian team and becoming superstars.
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Suyash Sharma is yet another example of this. He made his IPL debut even before he had gone on to the domestic scene. After having created a buzz in Delhi cricket in 2022, he went on to get trials with Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians. KKR bought him at the auction for his base price of Rs 20 lakh.
In his first season with KKR in 2023, he fared decently with 10 wickets from 11 matches. But 2024 was a tough season for him, wherein he played just two matches and returned without taking any wickets. He was released prior to the mega auction and bought by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 2.5 crore.
Now, 21 years old, Suyash played in nine of RCB’s ten matches this IPL season and took four wickets. He had talked during the interview about how the franchise helped him ahead of the season, as he was set for a major surgery abroad.
RCB took me to London for my surgery. I met James Pipey, the team physio, and he treated me like family. I had three hernias, and honestly, I was not sure I would make it to the first match of IPL 2025. I thought I would skip a few games because of the surgery. But Pipey and his family really supported me. I am grateful to be with this franchise and now I am fit.
He explained that he was in pain for two long years but since the doctors never diagnosed anything, he learned to cope with it. “I was dealing with pain for a pretty long time. While playing for India or some franchise, I forgot about it; otherwise, it was tough. RCB believed in me and spent their money on my health and surgery. I’m really happy with the way it went and feel like I’m on a much more positive track now.
He also spoke of having to work very hard to catch the eyes of BPL teams and how his parents always supported him. “Before IPL, I hadn’t played any major tournaments, apart from Under-25 tournaments. Spent many years trialing without making a breakthrough. “My relatives always asked when I was going to make it to the IPL but my parents remained firm, trusting that they knew how much effort I was putting into it.
The sharp googly is something that he flashes back to recollect how he impressed at the IPL trials. “I took eight wickets out of ten in one match during KKR’s practice session, and even the keeper struggled keeping up. That was how I got picked. My father was in the hospital at that time, and he cried when he heard it. No one thought I would make it to IPL so soon.
