Rahul Sharma

Rahul Sharma (born 20 July 1987 in New Delhi, Punjab) is an Indian cricketer. He is primarily a right-handed legbreak and googly bowler. He has been a member of the Punjab cricket team since 2006. He came into the limelight due to his impressive bowling performances in IPL 2011 for Pune Warriors.

Rahul started as a medium pacer but soon turned to leg spin on his coach. He made his debut in first class cricket on 25 December 2006 for Punjab against Rajasthan, but had to wait till 2009 to play again. In 2009–10 season of the Ranji Trophy, he took 13 wickets in seven first class games. Rahul played only one Ranji match in the 2010–11 season.

In 2010, Rahul Sharma made his IPL debut for Deccan Chargers. He took just five wickets and went at 8.08 an over in the six matches he played for Deccan Chargers. In the 2011 IPL, Rahul Sharma made a name for himself with some good bowling performances for Pune Warriors. His figures of 4-0-7-2 against Mumbai Indians were the most economical of 2011 Indian Premier League and the performance created enough of a buzz to see his name trend on Twitter in India. In 2015 rahul sharma was bought by Chennai Super kings in the ipl8 auction.

On 8 December 2011, Rahul Sharma made his ODI debut for India in the 4th ODI against the West Indies and took three wickets. All three batsmen were bowled. In the same match Virender Sehwag set a new record(219) for the highest score in ODIs.
Rahul Sharma scored his first run in One Day Internationals against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 5 February 2012. He scored 1 run off 2 balls before being bowled by Xavier Doherty.

On 1 February 2012, Rahul Sharma made his Twenty20 International debut for India in the 1st T20 of the series against Australia at the Stadium Australia/Sydney Olympic Park currently known as ANZ Stadium. He injured his finger while bowling his first over but came back later to continue bowling. His first Twenty20 International wicket was that of David Hussey who was bowled clean.

Rahul Sharma had suffered from a form of facial paralysis called Bell's Palsy a few days before the beginning of the IPL 2010 series.

Rahul Sharma was caught along with Wayne Parnell after he tested positive for consumption of drugs in a rave party. He later said he had no clue about the rave party and had gone there to attend a birthday celebration.