Who is chetan sharma
Chetan Sharma is a renowned name in the cricket world both as a cricketer of yesteryear’s and as an astute commentator who understands the nuances of the game. He carved his own niche in Indian cricket with performance that reflected sheer tenacity, courage, and skill. Known for his combative spirit, Chetan made unique contributions to the sport, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire budding cricketers.
Early life
Sharma was born on 3rd January 1966 in Ludhiana, Punjab. His love for cricket started at a very tender age under the tutelage of Des Raj. Balwinder Sandhu spotted him during a junior state match and took him under his wings at Bishen Bedi Cricket Coaching Trust in New Delhi.
A Glittering Career
Sharma’s international career commenced when he was picked up for the Sri Lanka tour in 1984-85 at the young age of just eighteen years. Throughout his career span from 1984 to 1994, this right-arm fast bowler represented India in several ODIs (One Day Internationals) and Test matches.
The Renowned Hat Trick Hero
In the history of cricket, Chetan Sharma will always be remembered as the first Indian to take a hat-trick in One Day Internationals. The historic moment occurred during the World Cup held in Nagpur in October 1987; Sharma got Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield out from three consecutive balls, marking himself into cricket history.
Besides this, he also became the youngest Indian test centurion against England by scoring 101 not out while playing only his fourth innings at Birmingham.
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Career ups-and-downs
Like any sportsman’s career, Chetan’s journey too was dotted with ups and downs. He played a crucial role in India’s 2-0 Test series victory in England in 1986 where he took 16 wickets but the performances didn’t yield him a regular spot. A testimony of his omission came when despite being fit, he was not included in the Indian squad for the match against Pakistan at Chepauk in 1986.
Retirement and Post-Cricket Career
After his last international appearance in an ODI against West Indies on March 8th, 1994, Sharma announced retirement and embarked on a career as a cricket analyst and commentator.
He became known for his insightful analysis of the game and ability to dissect strategies used by teams. Over time, Sharma established himself as one of India’s most respected commentators offering eloquent commentary both in Hindi and English during live matches.
Sharma as Selection Committee Head
Bringing his wealth of knowledge back to the game, Chetan made headlines again when he was appointed as chairman of selectors by BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) in January 2021. His extensive experience on-and-off the field aims to cultivate new talents and guide them strategically towards success at every level.
In conclusion, Chetan Sharma’s life is essentially a tale of determination – from playing domestic cricket at such a young age then making it big on the international platform followed by transitioning smoothly into commentating – each phase bespeaks of his deep-rooted love for cricket. Today as a veteran cricketer who understands the undeniable charm of this sport, Chetan continues to inspire many more youngsters with dreams to wear blue someday.
