Yashpal Sharma Debut, Biography, Stats, Net Worth, Wife, IPL Team, Records, Career

Indian cricket has seen many great players, but very few have quietly made history and enjoyed the limelight. One such name is Yashpal Sharma. The man most remembered as the hero of India’s legendary 1983 World Cup win was Yashpal Sharma. Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar dominate the headlines, but Yashpal Sharma stands tall as the man who gave stability, courage and confidence to the Indian middle order. In fact, he was a brutal hitter. A brave, disciplined and dead-eyed batsman who waited for the ball only when India needed it the most. Apart from the calculations, his immersion in Indian cricket was different. He impressed with dwarf innings on occasions like pressure, stability and honesty.

This blog covers everything about Yashpal Sharma – from his debut and biography to statistics, net worth, wife, records and his entire cricketing journey – in simple and fluent language.

Why Is Yashpal Sharma Important in Indian Cricket?

Yashpal Sharma was a right-handed middle-order batsman who represented India in the late 1970s and 1980s. He was particularly useful in ODI and Test cricket as he coped with pressure and built partnerships, which were a reliable backbone for the team. During the 1983 Cricket World Cup, he became a national hero as the crucial runs he scored took India to the knockout stages and eventually earned respect. He may not have had star quality in terms of marketing, but he was a warrior on the cricket field.

Early Life & Family Background

Yashpal Sharma was born on 11 August 1954 in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He was raised in a very humble environment where cricket was considered more of a passion than money. He showed complete dedication and passion for the game from a young age. His talent shone through during school and local tournaments, and he soon became a star in the local cricket circuit of Punjab. His family supported his dream, and after a hard-earned journey through several long local seasons, it paid off with selection in the Indian team.

Biography Details

Full Name	Yashpal Sharma
Date of Birth	11 August 1954
Age	71 years (as of 2026)
Birthplace	Ludhiana, Punjab, India
Nationality	Indian
Profession	Former Cricketer
Role	Middle-order Batsman
Batting Style	Right-handed
Bowling Style	Right-arm medium
International Team	India
Marital Status	Married
Wife	Pooja Sharma
Net Worth	₹5–8 crore (approx.)

Career Batting, Bowling & Fielding Stats

Batting (Right-handed)

Format	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	6s
Tests	37	59	11	1606	140	33.45	–	–	2	9	7
ODIs	42	40	9	883	89	28.48	1401	63.02	0	4	–
FC	160	245	46	8933	201*	44.88	–	–	21	46	–
List A	74	70	16	1859	91	34.42	–	–	0	12	–

Bowling (Right-arm medium)

Format	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w
Tests	37	3	30	17	1	1/6	1/6	17.00	3.40	30.0	0	0
ODIs	42	8	201	199	1	1/27	1/27	199.00	5.94	201.0	0	0
FC	160	–	3640	1584	47	5/106	–	33.70	2.61	77.4	–	1
List A	74	–	568	478	13	4/41	4/41	36.76	5.04	43.6	1	0

Fielding Stats

Format	Ct	St
Tests	16	0
ODIs	10	0
FC	90	2
List A	28	1

International Debut

While Indian cricket is still facing turmoil, Yashpal Sharma has made his debut in international cricket.

Test debut: December 21, 1979, against Pakistan.
ODI debut: February 11, 1983, against England.

He immediately proved his worth through maturity and responsible batting.

World Cup 1983: The Turning Point

Yashpal became a household name during the 1983 Cricket World Cup.

He played a key role in:

Scoring crucial runs in the group matches
Helping India reach the semi-finals
Starting a period of confidence building in the team

One of the highest run-scorers for India in that tournament, he played a very important role in changing Indian cricket forever.

Playing Style

Batting

Very calm and patient
Strong defensive technique
Reliable under pressure
Excellent at turning strikes.

Bowling

Right-arm medium pace bowler
Sometimes used.
Useful for breaking partnerships.

His style is suitable for long innings and has a high pressure environment.

Domestic Cricket

Yashpal Sharma was the king of domestic cricket until he became a national star for Punjab. One of India’s best batsmen, he was known for his brilliant Ranji Trophy performances.

Domestic cricket also builds confidence, mental stability and consistency.

IPL Career

Yashpal Sharma did not play in the much-delayed IPL after his retirement in 2008. However, after retirement, he made the following contributions to Indian cricket.

Selector
Coach
Mentor

Records & Achievements

Member of the 1983 World Cup-winning Indian team.
One of the highest run-scorers for India in World Cups.
Scored Test centuries under pressure.
He played a key role in building India’s middle order in the 1980s.

Net Worth & Income

Yashpal Sharma’s estimated net worth is in the range of ₹ 5-8 crores.

Sources of income are as follows:

Match fees during playing days,
Coaching and selection,
Cricket administration.

He lives a very quiet and respectful life.

Conclusion

In short, Yashpal Sharma’s cricketing saga has not been one of glamour, wealth and enthusiastic media attention, but of discipline, endurance and execution at crucial moments. At a time when Indian cricket was still trying to establish itself on the world stage, Yashpal proved to be a solid middle-order batsman. A quiet presence, he instilled confidence in his teammates and provided stability to the team. The 1983 World Cup changed Indian cricket forever, and Yashpal Sharma was one of the main architects of that historic achievement. His runs in difficult matches were crucial for India to qualify for the knock-out stage and build confidence that they could beat the strongest teams in the world. Without this invaluable contribution, India’s dream of winning the World Cup would never have been realised.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who is Yashpal Sharma in Indian cricket?

Yashpal Sharma is an Indian former international cricketer who is best known as a middle-order batsman. He was a member of the cricket team that won the World Cup for India in 1983. He played an exceptional role in one of the greatest cricket victories in India’s history.

Q2. What role did Yashpal Sharma play in the 1983 World Cup?

Yashpal Sharma played a key role as a middle-order batsman in the 1983 World Cup. He scored important runs in many group matches to qualify India for the semi-finals. His honesty and fighting spirit made India a powerful batting team during the tournament.

Q3. When did Yashpal Sharma start his international career?

Yashpal Sharma made his Test cricket debut against the Pakistan team in December 1979. Then, in February 1983, before the World Cup, he made his One-Day International debut against England. This was the right time to start ODIs, and he made the most of it.

Q4. Has Yashpal Sharma played any IPL?

Yashpal Sharma has not played any IPL since he played the IPL, a day before international cricket ended in 2008. But even after retiring as a selector and coach, he remained involved in the game of cricket.

Q5. What is Yashpal Sharma’s net worth today?

As of 2026, it was estimated that his net worth would be ₹5-8 crore. His earnings were based on playing, coaching and being a cricket selector. Unlike today’s cricketers, he earned most of his money at a time when cricket was not as commercial.