Sandeep Sharma IPL stats tell the story of one of the most underrated swing bowlers the league has seen. Across fourteen seasons, the Rajasthan Royals pacer has collected 151 wickets in 143 matches, relying on late movement, clever changes of pace and a calm head in the powerplay rather than raw speed. His 5 for 18 against Mumbai Indians in 2024 remains the finest single spell of his career, and his record of dismissing Virat Kohli seven times is the most by any bowler in IPL history.
Since joining Rajasthan Royals in 2023, first as an injury replacement and then as a retained senior seamer, Sandeep has become the side’s trusted new-ball operator, sharing dressing rooms with Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult and current captain Yashasvi Jaiswal at different stages of the franchise’s recent campaigns. This page covers his full IPL journey: season-by-season numbers, auction and retention history, records, and what is confirmed about IPL 2027.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Stats Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sandeep Sharma |
| IPL Debut | 11 May 2013 (Kings XI Punjab) |
| Role | Bowler |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Current IPL Team | Rajasthan Royals |
| IPL Matches | 143 |
| IPL Runs | 60 |
| Highest Score | 9 |
| IPL Wickets | 151 |
| Best Bowling | 5/18 |
| IPL 2027 Team | Not officially confirmed |
| IPL 2027 Price | Not officially confirmed |
Who Is Sandeep Sharma?
Sandeep Sharma is an Indian right-arm fast-medium bowler from Patiala, Punjab, born on 18 May 1993. He first came to national attention as part of India’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup-winning squad, where he took four wickets in the final against Australia and finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker for India with 12 scalps. Strong domestic seasons with Punjab in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy followed, and Kings XI Punjab picked him up ahead of the 2013 IPL. He made his IPL debut on 11 May 2013 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, taking 3 for 21 — an immediate signal of his new-ball value. A swing bowler in the classical mould, Sandeep moves the ball both ways and has built his entire IPL career on control and intelligence, becoming one of the league’s most successful powerplay operators. He has also played two T20 internationals for India.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Teams
| Season | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Kings XI Punjab | Auction buy (₹10 lakh) |
| 2014–2017 | Kings XI Punjab | Retained |
| 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Auction buy (₹3 crore) |
| 2019–2021 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Retained |
| 2022 | Punjab Kings | Auction buy (₹50 lakh) |
| 2023 | Rajasthan Royals | Injury replacement (₹50 lakh) |
| 2024–2026 | Rajasthan Royals | Retained |
| 2027 | Not officially confirmed | — |
Sandeep spent his first nine IPL seasons with the Punjab franchise in its Kings XI days, then moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad for four seasons after a ₹3 crore auction bid in 2018. A brief return to Punjab Kings in 2022 was followed by the move that revived his career: Rajasthan Royals signed him as an injury replacement for Prasidh Krishna in March 2023, and he has stayed with the franchise since, retained through 2026 at ₹4 crore. Along the way he has shared dressing rooms with some of the league’s biggest names, from Ravindra Jadeja‘s current RR spell to earlier stints bowling alongside the likes of Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Sandeep Sharma IPL 2024 Stats
| Mat | Overs | Wkts | Avg | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 38 | 13 | 23.92 | 8.18 | 5/18 |
IPL 2024 was Sandeep’s best season in a Rajasthan Royals shirt. In 11 matches he took 13 wickets at an average of 23.92 and an economy of 8.18, and the standout was his career-best 5 for 18 against Mumbai Indians — a spell built on swing up front and pinpoint yorkers at the death. It was his first five-wicket haul in the IPL and the performance that cemented his role as the side’s designated powerplay and death bowler under Sanju Samson’s captaincy.
Sandeep Sharma IPL 2025 Stats
| Mat | Overs | Wkts | Avg | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 36.3 | 9 | 40.11 | 9.89 | 2/21 |
The 2025 season was a difficult one. Sandeep played 10 matches and took 9 wickets, but his economy climbed to 9.89 and his average to 40.11, and the campaign was cut short by a mid-season finger injury. Even so, Rajasthan Royals retained him at ₹4 crore ahead of the 2026 season, a clear vote of confidence in a bowler the franchise trusted in the toughest overs.
Sandeep Sharma IPL 2026 Stats
| Mat | Overs | Wkts | Avg | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 19.4 | 5 | 44.80 | 11.39 | 2/26 |
Injuries disrupted 2026 even more. A finger fracture midway through the season limited Sandeep to six appearances, in which he took 5 wickets at an economy of 11.39 — well below his career standards. The one bright note came early in the season at Guwahati, where his dismissal of the RCB captain took him past 150 IPL wickets, putting him in an elite group of pacers in league history. Tushar Deshpande and the younger seamers took more of the new-ball load as the season wore on.
Sandeep Sharma IPL 2027 Stats
IPL 2027 statistics are not available yet because the season has not started. The 2027 season is scheduled for March–May 2027, and player statistics for it do not exist yet. His last confirmed on-field numbers remain the 2026 season figures above: 6 matches, 5 wickets, economy 11.39.
Sandeep Sharma IPL 2027 Team and Price
As of October 2026, Sandeep Sharma’s IPL 2027 team and price are not officially confirmed. The retention deadline for the 2027 mini auction is typically in late November, and Rajasthan Royals had not announced their retention decisions at the time of writing. Some media reports have speculated that RR could release him after two injury-hit seasons, while others list him among the likely retained core — but these are unconfirmed predictions, not decisions. His last confirmed contract was a ₹4 crore retention by Rajasthan Royals for the 2026 season. This section will be updated when the official retention list is announced.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Career Batting Stats
| Season | Team | M | Runs | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | KXIP | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | KXIP | 11 | 2 | 2* |
| 2015 | KXIP | 14 | 9 | 7 |
| 2016 | KXIP | 14 | 8 | 5* |
| 2017 | KXIP | 13 | 7 | 5* |
| 2018 | SRH | 12 | 0 | 0* |
| 2019 | SRH | 11 | 6 | 5* |
| 2020 | SRH | 13 | 12 | 9 |
| 2021 | SRH | 7 | 8 | 8* |
| 2022 | PBKS | 5 | – | – |
| 2023 | RR | 12 | 2 | 2* |
| 2024 | RR | 11 | – | – |
| 2025 | RR | 10 | 6 | 6* |
| 2026 | RR | 6 | – | – |
| Career | – | 143 | 60 | 9 |
Sandeep is a number 10/11 specialist whose batting has never been part of his job description: 60 career runs at an average of 10.00, with a highest score of 9.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Career Bowling Stats
| Season | Team | Mat | Overs | Wkts | Avg | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | KXIP | 4 | 16 | 8 | 14.87 | 7.43 | 3/21 |
| 2014 | KXIP | 11 | 40.1 | 18 | 19.66 | 8.81 | 3/15 |
| 2015 | KXIP | 14 | 50 | 13 | 26.92 | 7.00 | 4/25 |
| 2016 | KXIP | 14 | 50 | 15 | 24.40 | 7.32 | 2/11 |
| 2017 | KXIP | 13 | 48 | 17 | 23.41 | 8.29 | 4/20 |
| 2018 | SRH | 12 | 44 | 12 | 27.75 | 7.56 | 2/17 |
| 2019 | SRH | 11 | 42.4 | 12 | 29.33 | 8.25 | 3/19 |
| 2020 | SRH | 13 | 52 | 14 | 26.71 | 7.19 | 3/34 |
| 2021 | SRH | 7 | 23.3 | 3 | 67.66 | 8.63 | 1/20 |
| 2022 | PBKS | 5 | 20 | 2 | 76.50 | 7.65 | 1/18 |
| 2023 | RR | 12 | 46 | 10 | 39.60 | 8.61 | 2/25 |
| 2024 | RR | 11 | 38 | 13 | 23.92 | 8.18 | 5/18 |
| 2025 | RR | 10 | 36.3 | 9 | 40.11 | 9.89 | 2/21 |
| 2026 | RR | 6 | 19.4 | 5 | 44.80 | 11.39 | 2/26 |
| Career | – | 143 | 526.3 | 151 | 28.44 | 8.16 | 5/18 |
Sandeep Sharma IPL Stats by Year
| Season | Team | Mat | Runs | HS | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | KXIP | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7.43 |
| 2014 | KXIP | 11 | 2 | 2* | 18 | 8.81 |
| 2015 | KXIP | 14 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 7.00 |
| 2016 | KXIP | 14 | 8 | 5* | 15 | 7.32 |
| 2017 | KXIP | 13 | 7 | 5* | 17 | 8.29 |
| 2018 | SRH | 12 | 0 | 0* | 12 | 7.56 |
| 2019 | SRH | 11 | 6 | 5* | 12 | 8.25 |
| 2020 | SRH | 13 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 7.19 |
| 2021 | SRH | 7 | 8 | 8* | 3 | 8.63 |
| 2022 | PBKS | 5 | – | – | 2 | 7.65 |
| 2023 | RR | 12 | 2 | 2* | 10 | 8.61 |
| 2024 | RR | 11 | – | – | 13 | 8.18 |
| 2025 | RR | 10 | 6 | 6* | 9 | 9.89 |
| 2026 | RR | 6 | – | – | 5 | 11.39 |
Sandeep Sharma IPL Highest Score
Sandeep Sharma’s highest IPL score is 9, made for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2020. As a tailender who bats at number 10 or 11, batting has never been his role — his career tally stands at 60 runs from 143 matches — so the highest score is a footnote rather than a feature of his record.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Wickets and Best Bowling
Sandeep’s 151 IPL wickets put him among the most successful pacers in league history, and he crossed the 150-wicket mark in April 2026 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Guwahati. His best bowling figures are the 5 for 18 he took for Rajasthan Royals against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, a spell of sustained swing and late-over accuracy that stands as his only IPL five-wicket haul. His next-best figures include 4 for 20 and 4 for 25, and he has taken three or more wickets in an innings eleven times. Few bowlers have owned the powerplay the way he has — around 55 of his wickets have come in the first six overs, making him one of the finest powerplay operators the IPL has seen.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Batting Records
There are no meaningful IPL batting records attached to Sandeep Sharma’s name. His value has always been entirely with the ball, and his batting numbers — 60 runs in 143 matches — reflect a bowler whose teams have asked almost nothing of him with the bat.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Auction Price History
| Season | Team | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Kings XI Punjab | ₹10 lakh | Auction |
| 2014–2017 | Kings XI Punjab | ₹85 lakh/yr | Retention |
| 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹3 crore | Auction |
| 2019–2021 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | ₹3 crore/yr | Retention |
| 2022 | Punjab Kings | ₹50 lakh | Auction |
| 2023 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹50 lakh | Injury replacement |
| 2024 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹50 lakh | Retention |
| 2025 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹4 crore | Retention (pre-mega auction) |
| 2026 | Rajasthan Royals | ₹4 crore | Retention |
The arc of Sandeep’s price history is a study in how franchises value reliability. He went from a ₹10 lakh rookie buy in 2013 to a ₹3 crore auction signing by Sunrisers in 2018, then fell back to ₹50 lakh and an injury-replacement contract in 2023 — before Rajasthan Royals backed him with a ₹4 crore retention ahead of the 2025 mega auction cycle, the clearest sign of how highly they rated his powerplay and death-overs skill.
Sandeep Sharma IPL Records and Achievements
- 150 IPL wickets — reached in April 2026 against RCB at Guwahati, among the first pacers to the milestone in league history.
- Best bowling 5/18 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, his only IPL five-wicket haul.
- Most dismissals of Virat Kohli in IPL history — 7, including a famous 2017 spell in which he removed Chris Gayle, Kohli and AB de Villiers in the same match.
- Six dismissals of Rohit Sharma in 13 innings, conceding just 38 runs off 47 balls.
- One of the leading powerplay wicket-takers in IPL history, with around 55 powerplay scalps.
- IPL debut figures of 3/21 for Kings XI Punjab in 2013.
- Member of India’s 2012 Under-19 World Cup-winning team; four wickets in the final against Australia.
Sandeep Sharma’s IPL Performance Analysis
The numbers split Sandeep’s career into three clear phases. From 2013 to 2017 with Punjab, he was a metronomic new-ball bowler — his 18 wickets in 2014 and 17 in 2017 came at averages under 24, and his economy rarely drifted even in high-scoring seasons. The Sunrisers years (2018–2021) kept him steady rather than spectacular: 41 wickets across four seasons at economies between 7.19 and 8.63, the reliable support act in a strong attack. The Rajasthan Royals chapter began modestly — 10 wickets at 39.60 in 2023 — before the 2024 resurgence (13 wickets at 23.92 with the 5/18) showed a 31-year-old adapting his craft. The warning signs are the last two seasons: economies of 9.89 and 11.39, both curtailed by finger injuries, raising real questions about durability. His game was never built on pace, so age alone does not end him — but the 2027 mini auction will be a judgement call for RR between his unmatched new-ball craft and two seasons of declining, injury-hit returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many IPL wickets does Sandeep Sharma have?
Sandeep Sharma has taken 151 wickets in 143 IPL matches, at an average of 28.44 and an economy of 8.16 (through IPL 2026).
Which IPL team does Sandeep Sharma play for?
He last played for Rajasthan Royals (2023–2026). His team for IPL 2027 is not officially confirmed yet.
What is Sandeep Sharma’s IPL price?
His last confirmed contract was ₹4 crore, retained by Rajasthan Royals for the 2026 season. His IPL 2027 price is not officially confirmed.
What are Sandeep Sharma’s best IPL bowling figures?
5 for 18 against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024, playing for Rajasthan Royals — his only IPL five-wicket haul.
How many times has Sandeep Sharma dismissed Virat Kohli in the IPL?
Seven times — the most dismissals of Virat Kohli by any bowler in IPL history.
When did Sandeep Sharma make his IPL debut?
On 11 May 2013 for Kings XI Punjab against Sunrisers Hyderabad, taking 3 for 21.
Has Sandeep Sharma taken 150 IPL wickets?
Yes. He reached the milestone in April 2026 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Guwahati, becoming one of the few pacers to do so in IPL history.
Sources and Data Notes
Season-by-season statistics compiled from myKhel’s IPL player records and cross-checked against AdvanceCricket ball-by-ball data, CricTracker and SportsCafe career summaries, Rajasthan Royals’ official player profile, and match reports on the official IPL website from the 2024–2026 seasons. Auction and retention prices are from Cricbuzz auction tracking and franchise announcements reported by the cricket press. Statistics and player information are checked against available reliable sources and may be updated as new IPL matches, transfers, or official announcements are confirmed.
Statistics updated through: 18 October 2026
