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Chetan Sharma Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth3 January 1966

Age59 Years

BirthplaceLudhiana, Punjab, India

ProfessionCricketer, Cricket Commentator, Chief selector, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseRamani Sharma

FamilySon - Rachit Sharma; Daughter - Tanavi Sharma; Father - M. L. Sharma; Sister - Rakesh Sharma; Uncle - Yashpal Sharma; Mother -

Chetan Sharma Biography

Former Indian fast-medium bowler Chetan Sharma is remembered for several high points in an international career that included the first-ever World Cup hat‑

Early life and background
Chetan Sharma was born on 3 January 1966 in Ludhiana, Punjab. He grew up in the region and attended DAV School, Sector-7 in Chandigarh, later completing a Bachelor of Arts from Kurukshetra University in 1986. His early cricketing education included coaching under Desh Prem Azad, a Dronacharya Awardee who also mentored other prominent Indian players.

Career
Sharma emerged as a right‑arm fast‑medium bowler who represented India across formats in the 1980s and early 1990s. He made his One Day International debut on 7 December 1983 against the West Indies and his Test debut on 17 October 1984 against Pakistan. Over his international career he appeared in 23 Tests and 65 ODIs.

As a bowler he took 61 Test wickets with a best innings return of 6 for 58 and match figures that included a 10‑for. In ODIs he claimed 67 wickets, his best ODI return being 3 for 22. Sharma’s international career was affected by injuries, which limited his availability and appearances for India.

Though primarily a bowler, Sharma contributed useful lower‑order runs on occasion. His Test top score was 54 as a nightwatchman at Adelaide, and he recorded an undefeated century in ODIs — 101 not out off 96 balls against England in Kanpur in October 1989.

On the domestic front Sharma began with Punjab, later played for Haryana and moved to Bengal in 1993, representing them until his retirement from playing in 1996. He was part of the Haryana side that won the 1990–91 Ranji Trophy, a notable achievement in his domestic career.

Records and notable moments
Sharma created history at the 1987 World Cup by taking a hat‑trick against New Zealand, bowling Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Evan Chatfield. He is the first Indian bowler to take a hat‑trick in ODIs and the first bowler to record a hat‑trick in a World Cup.

Other career highlights include strong bowling returns in the mid‑1980s. He took 17 wickets in the 1985–86 Benson & Hedges World Series Cup in Australia and produced a series of effective performances on tours to Sri Lanka and England, the latter earning him a place on the Lord’s Wall of Fame for a five‑wicket haul.

Post‑playing career
After retiring in 1996, Sharma worked for many years as a cricket commentator. He also moved into coaching and development; he opened a coaching academy in Panchkula in 2004 which operated until 2009.

Sharma entered politics in 2009, joining the Bahujan Samaj Party and contesting the Lok Sabha seat from Faridabad the same year, where he finished third with about 18 percent of the vote. Later in 2009 he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and served as the party’s sports convener.

He returned to a prominent role in Indian cricket administration when appointed chief selector of the BCCI in December 2019. After India’s campaign in the 2022 T20 World Cup he was removed in November 2022 and was reappointed to the post in January 2023.

Public profile
Sharma’s international career and later administrative roles kept him in the public eye. He is sometimes known by the nickname Nanu. Off the field, he has been associated with sporting interests beyond cricket — including handball and table tennis — and is the nephew of former Indian cricketer Yashpal Sharma.

Personal life
Chetan Sharma is married to Ramani Sharma; the couple have two children, a son named Rachit and a daughter named Tanavi. His parents are listed as M. L. Sharma and his mother (name not specified). He has a sister named Rakesh Sharma.

Latest updates
Sharma’s administrative career has seen changes in recent years with his removal and subsequent reappointment as BCCI chief selector around India’s 2022 T20 World Cup cycle. Earlier in his career he opened and later closed a coaching academy and continued to work as a commentator and cricket mentor after retirement.

Overall, Chetan Sharma’s career is marked by on‑field milestones, including the historic World Cup hat‑trick, useful batting contributions, domestic success, and an ongoing presence in Indian cricket through commentary and governance roles.
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Recent Work

Chief Selector, BCCI

Appointed as chief selector in December 2019; removed in November 2022 and reappointed in January 2023.

2019–2023
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Career Highlights

  1. First bowler to take a hat‑trick in a World Cup (1987)
  2. Five‑wicket haul at Lord’s; name inscribed on Lord’s Wall of Fame
  3. Member of Haryana team that won the 1990–91 Ranji Trophy
  4. Scored 101 not out in an ODI and 54 as a nightwatchman in Tests
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Chetan Sharma born?

3 January 1966

What is Chetan Sharma known for?

Cricketer, Cricket Commentator, Chief selector, Politician

What is Chetan Sharma’s marital status?

Married

Who is Chetan Sharma married to?

Ramani Sharma