Udhampur, Delhi, Kolkata, Jaipur: Tracing the Brijesh Sharma story

Brijesh Sharma has been a wayfarer for most of his cricketing life. No stability, just the next opportunity, tournament after tournament. A story that began in Jammu & Kashmir, a recent hotbed for quicks, has taken several twists before ending up at Rajasthan Royals.

A wildcard pick for IPL 2026, Brijesh has impressed with his change of speeds and yorkers. Before the IPL, he hadn't played a single competitive match.

Son of a labourer in Mada, Brijesh played U16 and U19 for J&K. At U23 level, Abdul Samad advised him to train in Delhi.

Deepak Punia, a former Ranji seamer, became his mentor. Brijesh later told RR that Punia "gave him a new life."

"He came to me around 2021-22," Punia says. "He used to play local tennis-ball cricket. When he came to Delhi, I got him into local tournaments. He came from a poor family, didn't even have shoes. I took care of his stay, meals, everything."

Punia worked on his bowling. "When he first came, he clocked about 125-128kph. Now he's crossed 140. In IPL practice matches, he touched 145. I taught him slower ones, bouncers, yorkers."

However, Delhi's competitive ecosystem meant a breakthrough had to come elsewhere.

In the IPL, Brijesh is registered as a Cricket Association of Bengal player. Two years ago, he came to West Bengal for more opportunities and to earn money through tennis-ball cricket.

Punia deterred him from tennis ball. "I told him we're not playing this anymore. There was a risk of injury."

Punia played for Kidderpore Sporting Club in Kolkata. His friend Debi Prasanna Padhi, CAB's development committee chairman, was looking for a bowler for their premier division league.

Club matches in Kolkata are crucial for U23 and Ranji selection. Padhi put Brijesh up in a flat, sharing with other players. "He was struggling financially. I helped in whatever ways I could."

Brijesh's raw talent stood out. "He was different from the start," says Azharuddin. "Looking at his body structure, you couldn't understand how he was so quick."

"We hardly get IPL-level players here"

Brijesh was in demand for his pace changes. "We scout between us," says Azhar. "Player transfers balance out teams."

The Bengal Pro T20 breakthrough

Bought by Sobisco Smashers Malda in the draft, Brijesh took 11 wickets in seven games at an economy of 7.7. RR scouts took over.

Assistant coach Ayan Subhra Mukherjee recalls: "In our draft strategy, we wanted a white-ball death bowler. I checked his stats, videos. He'd bowl in one spot without complaining. He's a very good listener. If things weren't going to plan, he'd step up and say, 'I will do it.' Without changing his arm speed, he could send down a back-of-the-hand that disturbed many good batters."

Azharuddin adds: "In difficult situations, he'd ask for bowling. Picking a slower one off a fast bowler, only a few can do it well."

Gitimoi Basu, a senior at Smashers, says: "He didn't come to play the Bengal Pro T20 League. His focus was something bigger. He hasn't even played Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The scouts must have seen something."

Between the Bengal T20 League and local cricket in Kolkata, Brijesh squeezed in trips to Delhi, Ghaziabad and J&K. Before joining RR camp, he sharpened skills at Empress League in Gurgaon.

"He has no fixed spot," says Azhar. "He keeps travelling wherever there are matches."

Padhi approached Sourav Ganguly for paperwork ahead of IPL 2026. "If Dada hadn't supported him, he wouldn't have been able to apply." Ganguly messaged Padhi: "Another player has emerged in Bengal."

Our wish is that he goes further, plays for India," Punia says. "He has bowled well at the death. In the Indian team, we hardly have good death bowlers aside from Bumrah."

One thing is certain with Brijesh: the grind never stops.

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