Brijesh Sharma: IPL Career, Rajasthan Royals Stats and Journey
The Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler took an unusual route through Delhi and Bengal before earning his Rajasthan Royals opportunity in IPL 2026.
Introduction
Brijesh Sharma is an Indian fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir who rose to wider attention after Rajasthan Royals signed him for IPL 2026.
His route was different. He moved through age-group cricket, Delhi training and Bengal club cricket before reaching the IPL.
Short Answer: Who Is Brijesh Sharma?
Brijesh Sharma is an Indian fast bowler from Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir. Born on 16 December 1998, he played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 and took 14 wickets in 13 matches. As of September 2026, he has joined the Jammu & Kashmir senior setup for the 2026–27 domestic season.
Quick Facts About Brijesh Sharma
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Brijesh Sharma |
| Date of Birth | 16 December 1998 |
| Age | 27, as of September 2026 |
| Birth Region | Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Professional cricketer |
| Main Role | Fast bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm medium / medium-fast |
| IPL Team | Rajasthan Royals |
| IPL Debut | 30 March 2026 |
| IPL 2026 Matches | 13 |
| IPL 2026 Wickets | 14 |
| Best IPL Figures | 2/18 |
| IPL 2026 Auction Price | ₹30 lakh |
| 2026–27 Domestic Setup | Jammu & Kashmir |
Why Is Brijesh Sharma Known?
Brijesh Sharma is mainly known for his rapid rise into the Indian Premier League.
Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹30 lakh before IPL 2026.
That move drew attention because Sharma had not followed the usual path of building a long senior first-class or List A career before entering the IPL.
His strong 2025 Bengal Pro T20 season helped change things.
He took 11 wickets in seven matches for Sobisco Smashers Malda and attracted IPL scouts.
Then came Rajasthan Royals.
Where Is Brijesh Sharma From?
Brijesh Sharma comes from Udhampur district in Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Public reports use slightly different local place names when describing his hometown, so Udhampur district is the clearest confirmed geographic description.
He came through Jammu & Kashmir age-group cricket before travelling outside the region for more playing opportunities.
That search took him to Delhi.
Later, Bengal became important.
What Is Brijesh Sharma’s Date of Birth and Age?
Brijesh Sharma was born on 16 December 1998.
He is 27 years old as of September 2026.
His Rajasthan Royals player information and established cricket databases support the same birth date.
How Did Brijesh Sharma Start Playing Cricket?
Sharma played cricket from a young age.
He represented Jammu & Kashmir at age-group level, though published sources differ slightly over the exact age categories.
The key point is clear.
He was already part of the J&K cricket system before moving elsewhere to develop his bowling.
His early years also included tennis-ball cricket.
That mattered later.
The quick arm speed built through tennis-ball cricket became useful when he started learning slower deliveries with a leather ball.
Who Helped Brijesh Sharma Develop as a Fast Bowler?
Former domestic fast bowler Deepak Punia became an important coach in Sharma’s development.
Sharma trained under Punia at Unique Sports Club near Delhi.
This period helped sharpen his bowling.
Punia said Sharma initially operated around 125–128 km/h before developing enough pace to cross the 140 km/h mark.
They also worked on:
- Yorkers
- Slower balls
- Slower bouncers
- Pace changes
- Back-of-the-hand variations
Those skills later became useful in T20 cricket.
Why Did Brijesh Sharma Move to Delhi?
Delhi gave Sharma access to tougher local competition and specialised pace-bowling coaching.
He played recognised local tournaments while trying to build a stronger cricket record.
The move was not easy.
Opportunities at senior level were still limited.
So he kept searching.
That eventually took him toward West Bengal.
How Did Bengal Change Brijesh Sharma’s Career?
Bengal gave Sharma regular competitive cricket.
He entered Kolkata’s club system and played for Kidderpore Sporting Club.
That gave coaches and selectors more chances to watch him.
His bowling started getting noticed.
He could bowl quickly.
He could change pace.
And he had a useful yorker.
Then came the Bengal Pro T20 League.
That became his big opening.
What Did Brijesh Sharma Do in the 2025 Bengal Pro T20 League?
Sharma played for Sobisco Smashers Malda in the 2025 Bengal Pro T20 League.
He took:
- 11 wickets
- 7 matches
- Around 17.8 bowling average
- Around 7.7 economy rate
That tournament put him in front of IPL scouts.
He was useful with the new ball.
He could also return late in the innings.
That flexibility gave him value as a T20 bowler.
How Did Brijesh Sharma Join Rajasthan Royals?
Rajasthan Royals invited Sharma into their trial process after his Bengal performances.
He impressed.
The franchise then bought him for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction.
It was his base price.
For Sharma, the move was huge.
He had spent years moving between cricket systems and local competitions.
Now he had an IPL contract.
Which IPL Team Does Brijesh Sharma Play For?
Brijesh Sharma played for Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2026.
The franchise signed him for ₹30 lakh at the auction.
He was used as a pace-bowling option during the season.
As of September 2026, Rajasthan Royals still carries his player profile and IPL record.
When Did Brijesh Sharma Make His IPL Debut?
Brijesh Sharma made his IPL debut on 30 March 2026.
The match was against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati.
He made an immediate impact.
Sharma finished with:
3 overs, 17 runs, 1 wicket.
His first IPL wicket was Kartik Sharma.
That debut gave him his first major senior professional record on one of cricket’s biggest stages.
What Are Brijesh Sharma’s IPL 2026 Stats?
Sharma finished IPL 2026 with:
| IPL 2026 Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches | 13 |
| Wickets | 14 |
| Balls Bowled | 273 |
| Runs Conceded | 450 |
| Bowling Average | 32.14 |
| Economy Rate | 9.89 |
| Strike Rate | 19.50 |
| Best Bowling | 2/18 |
| Catches | 1 |
His best figures were 2/18 against Lucknow Super Giants.
He also took 2/26 against Mumbai Indians later in the season.
For a bowler entering the IPL without a long senior domestic record, 14 wickets from 13 games gave Sharma a clear professional platform.
What Type of Bowler Is Brijesh Sharma?
Brijesh Sharma is a right-arm pace bowler.
Different cricket sources describe him as either right-arm medium or medium-fast.
His actual game is built around more than speed.
He uses:
- Pace changes
- Yorkers
- Slower deliveries
- Bounce
- Death-over variations
His arm speed helps hide some of those slower balls.
That is useful in T20 cricket.
A batter has less time to read the change.
How Fast Does Brijesh Sharma Bowl?
Coach Deepak Punia has said Sharma’s speed improved greatly during training.
He reportedly moved from roughly 125–128 km/h during earlier development to speeds above 140 km/h.
Punia also said Sharma touched around 145 km/h in IPL practice conditions.
That figure comes from his coach rather than official ball-tracking records, so it should be treated as a reported training speed.
Who Is Brijesh Sharma’s Father?
Brijesh Sharma’s father is Kapoor Chand Sharma.
Public reporting has described him as a labourer.
Brijesh has spoken about the financial difficulty surrounding parts of his cricket journey.
He has also credited friends and people around him for helping financially and emotionally while he tried to keep playing.
That background helps explain why his route involved so much travel and local cricket.
What Is Brijesh Sharma’s Education?
Regional reporting says Sharma completed his schooling through Class 12 in Udhampur and later focused heavily on cricket.
This detail comes from regional reporting rather than his official Rajasthan Royals profile.
For that reason, claims about specific schools, colleges or degrees should not be added without stronger confirmation.
What Is Brijesh Sharma’s IPL Salary?
Rajasthan Royals bought Brijesh Sharma for ₹30 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction.
That is the strongest confirmed financial figure linked to his professional career.
It is his IPL auction value for that season.
It should not be presented as his personal net worth.
What Is Brijesh Sharma’s Net Worth?
There is no reliable public financial record establishing Brijesh Sharma’s total personal net worth.
For a factual article, the better figure to report is his confirmed ₹30 lakh IPL 2026 auction price.
That figure comes from Rajasthan Royals’ official auction information.
Is Brijesh Sharma Playing for Jammu & Kashmir?
Yes.
In August 2026, reports confirmed that Sharma had joined the Jammu & Kashmir senior cricket setup ahead of the 2026–27 domestic season.
He joined Ranji Trophy preparations after previously being registered through Bengal around the time of his IPL entry.
This move brought his career closer to where it started.
Will Brijesh Sharma Play Ranji Trophy Cricket?
As of September 2026, Sharma has joined Jammu & Kashmir’s senior domestic preparations for the 2026–27 season.
Reports have described him as being in line for a possible first-class opportunity.
A future appearance should only be described as confirmed once he is officially selected in a match XI.
Brijesh Sharma Career Timeline
Early Years
Played age-group cricket in Jammu & Kashmir.
Delhi Development
Trained under Deepak Punia and worked on pace, yorkers and slower deliveries.
Kolkata Club Cricket
Played competitive club cricket, including for Kidderpore Sporting Club.
2025 Bengal Pro T20 League
Took 11 wickets in seven matches for Sobisco Smashers Malda.
IPL 2026 Auction
Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹30 lakh.
30 March 2026
Made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings.
IPL 2026 Season
Finished with 14 wickets from 13 matches.
August 2026
Joined the Jammu & Kashmir senior setup ahead of the 2026–27 domestic season.
What Makes Brijesh Sharma’s Career Different?
The route stands out.
He did not build his reputation through several seasons of senior domestic cricket first.
Instead, local cricket mattered.
Coaching mattered.
The Bengal Pro T20 League mattered.
He kept moving until the right stage appeared.
Delhi helped improve his bowling.
Bengal gave him visibility.
Rajasthan Royals gave him the IPL platform.
Then Jammu & Kashmir brought him into its senior setup.
It is a career built through persistence and match opportunities rather than one straight development path.
Brijesh Sharma’s Major Career Achievements
Sharma’s strongest confirmed achievements include:
- Reaching Rajasthan Royals through the IPL 2026 auction
- Securing a ₹30 lakh IPL deal
- Taking a wicket on IPL debut
- Finishing IPL 2026 with 14 wickets in 13 matches
- Recording best IPL figures of 2/18
- Taking 11 wickets in seven Bengal Pro T20 matches in 2025
- Joining Jammu & Kashmir’s senior setup for 2026–27
- Receiving recognition among Jammu & Kashmir’s outstanding sportspersons in 2026
What Is Brijesh Sharma Doing Now?
As of September 2026, Sharma is an IPL-experienced pace bowler preparing within the Jammu & Kashmir senior domestic setup.
His next clear career test is senior domestic cricket.
That could give him a broader record beyond T20 competition.
He is already known through the IPL.
Now comes the next stage.
Final Thought
Brijesh Sharma’s rise was not straightforward.
He left home for better cricket.
He trained in Delhi.
He played club cricket in Kolkata.
Then one strong Bengal Pro T20 season put him in front of IPL scouts.
Rajasthan Royals took the chance.
Sharma answered with 14 wickets in 13 matches during his debut IPL season.
As of September 2026, his attention has shifted toward Jammu & Kashmir’s senior domestic setup.
That makes his next season important.
The IPL introduced him to a much bigger audience. Senior domestic cricket can now show how far his game can go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brijesh Sharma?
He is an Indian fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir who played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026.
How old is Brijesh Sharma?
He is 27 years old as of September 2026.
When was Brijesh Sharma born?
He was born on 16 December 1998.
Where is Brijesh Sharma from?
He is from Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Which IPL team does Brijesh Sharma play for?
He played for Rajasthan Royals during IPL 2026.
What was Brijesh Sharma’s IPL 2026 price?
Rajasthan Royals bought him for ₹30 lakh.
How many IPL wickets does Brijesh Sharma have?
He took 14 wickets in 13 matches during IPL 2026.
What are Brijesh Sharma’s best IPL bowling figures?
His best IPL 2026 figures were 2/18.
Who is Brijesh Sharma’s father?
His father is Kapoor Chand Sharma, who has been publicly identified as a labourer.
Did Brijesh Sharma play domestic cricket before IPL?
He played age-group, club and Bengal Pro T20 cricket before entering the IPL.
Is Brijesh Sharma with Jammu & Kashmir cricket?
He joined the Jammu & Kashmir senior setup ahead of the 2026–27 domestic season.
What type of bowler is Brijesh Sharma?
He is a right-arm pace bowler known for speed changes, yorkers and slower deliveries.



