Joginder Sharma is a former Indian cricketer and DSP in Haryana Police. He is known for bowling the last over in the 2007 T20 World Cup which India won.
Wiki/Biography
Joginder Sharma was born on Sunday, 23 October 1983 (age 39 years; as of 2022) in Rohtak, Haryana, India. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He started playing cricket in his childhood as his brothers and cousins also played cricket. He completed his graduation from MD University, Rohtak.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 10″
Weight (approx.): 70 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
He was born into a Hindu family.
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Om Prakash Sharma, and his mother’s name is Dhanpati. His father ran a confectionary shop in the Kath Mandi area of Rohtak, and his mother is a housewife. He is the youngest of four brothers. Deepak Sharma and Ashwani Sharma.
Joginder Sharma with his father, Om Prakash Sharma, and mother, Dhanwati
Wife & Children
His wife’s name is Shikha Sharma. They have two sons named Udayveer Sharma and Manan Sharma.
Joginder Sharma with his wife, Shikha Sharma, and sons, Udayveer Sharma (extreme left), and Manan Sharma (extreme right)
Signature
Career
Domestic
He played in the Rest of India’s under-16 team in the Polly Umrigar Trophy in the 1999-2000 season. He debuted for the Haryana team in the 2002-03 Ranji Trophy against Madhya Pradesh as a bowling allrounder and scored 81 runs and took 11 wickets for 84 runs in the match. He took 24 wickets and scored 280 runs in his debut season. In the following 2003-04 Ranji season, he took 23 wickets and scored 148 runs. He was then selected for the North Zone team for Duleep Trophy and 6 wickets for 59 runs in a match against West Zone. He played for India A team later and gained the attention of selectors when he dismissed Rahul Dravid, V. V. S. Laxman, and Yuvraj Singh in a match. In the 2004-05 season, he took 14 wickets for 116 runs in a match against Vidarbha and scored consecutive centuries in the season, finishing the season with 36 wickets and 472 runs. In the 2006-07 Ranji season, he took maximum wickets, and he scored 421 runs in 3 matches of the Duleep Trophy. He also captained the Haryana team in the domestic season.
Joginder Sharma (extreme right) during his early playing days
ODIs
He played his debut ODI match on 23 December 2004 against Bangladesh at MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong and scored 5 runs not out and took one wicket for 28 runs. He played his last ODI match on 24 January 2007 against West Indies at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.
2007 T20 World Cup
He played for India during the 2007 T20 World Cup only. He played his debut match on 19 September 2007 against England at Kingsmead, Durban. In the semifinal against Australia at Kingsmead, Durban on 22 September 2007, he took the wickets of Michael Hussey and Brett Lee for 37 runs. In the final against Pakistan at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on 24 September 2007, he took the wicket of Younis Khan and the final wicket of Misbah-ul-Haq to help win India win the final by 5 runs and lift the World Cup Trophy.
Joginder Sharma (second from left) celebrating with other Indian players after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup
Indian Premier League (IPL)
He played for Chennai Super Kings in the 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons.
Retirement
He retired from all formats of cricket on 3 February 2023 at the age of 39 years. He played his debut match on 19 April 2008 against Punjab Kings at IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh. He played his last match on 22 April 2011 against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Joginder Sharma’s retirement letter
Stats
Batting
ODIs
- Highest Score: 29 not out
T20Is
Fielding and Bowling
ODIs
- Best Bowling Figures: 1 wicket for 28 runs
T20Is
- Best Bowling Figures: 2 wickets for 20 runs
Police Officer
He was appointed as DSP in Haryana Police on 4 September 2007. He joined on 5 October 2007 and completed basic training at Haryana Police Academy, Madhuban. As of 2023, he is posted in Hisar, Haryana. In 2020, during the onset of Covid-19, ICC applauded his work and called him a real-life hero.
2007: #T20WorldCup hero 🏆
2020: Real world hero 💪
In his post-cricket career as a policeman, India’s Joginder Sharma is among those doing their bit amid a global health crisis.
[📷 Joginder Sharma] pic.twitter.com/2IAAyjX3Se
— ICC (@ICC) March 28, 2020
Controversy
Police case for threatening his cousin
In September 2011, his cousin Sonu Sharma complained against Joginder Sharma, his mother Dhanpati, and sister-in-law Neelam Devi for forcibly entering Sonu’s house, abusing him and his mother Murti Devi, and thrashing them. He claimed that the altercation happened over compensation for the acquisition of Sonu’s shop on Jhajjar Road. When asked about it, Joginder denied having any altercation with Sonu.
Car Collection
He owns a Mini Cooper and a Mahindra Thar.
Joginder Sharma with his Mini Cooper car
Joginder Sharma sitting on his Mahindra Thar
Facts/Trivia
- He was awarded Rs21 lakhs by the Haryana government after winning the 2007 T20 World Cup.
- In July 2017, his father was at his confectionary shop when he was attacked and stabbed by two youths.
- He has inked a tattoo of Parshurama, one of the ten incarnations of the Hindu god Lord Vishnu, on his arm.
- In November 2011, he met with a serious accident in Delhi when his Maruti Swift car hit another car.