I want to win my third IPL title with CSK: Karn Sharma

“Obviously the team and I will be looking to win the game. I’d prefer to take it as just another game,” said the leg-spinner to the side’s official website on the sidelines of the Lions’ practice session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. 

“I want to win my third IPL title with CSK, that’s my driving force,” added Sharma, who conceded only 18 runs in his four overs in a low-scoring final against Rising Pune Supergiant as MI won their third title last season. The 30-year-old Uttar Pradesh cricketer, who represented India in Test, ODIs and T20I in 2014, was also a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 2016 title-winning squad. 

Aside from Sharma, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu from the current CSK squad also turned out for MI last season. “We know how MI plays, their approach and I’m sure it’s going to be a really competitive match,” Sharma continued. 

“It’s been really good starting to work with the senior players,” Sharma said about his first days of training with the Lions. “CSK has one of the biggest fan base in the IPL and I’m really glad to have got the opportunity to play for this champion side,” he further stated. 

Wrist spinners are making a huge impact in the shorter formats of the game and Sharma was a consistent performer in domestic cricket and for India A in 2017-18. Not only has he added more variations to his repertoire, Sharma has also worked on imparting more revolutions to his stock delivery. 

Sharma credited National Cricket Academy head spin coach Narendra Hirwani, with whom he specifically worked during his last stint at the Bengaluru-based facility, for the transformation. “I’d like to thank BCCI and Hirwani for all the support,” he concluded.