What is written on Raghu Sharma's slip? MI bowler celebrates maiden IPL wicket in Abhishek Sharma's style

The Mumbai Indians bowler Raghu Sharma got his maiden IPL wicket, dismissing debutant Akshat Raghuwanshi of the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium on May 4. Raghu Sharma went for 14 runs in his first over. But the stand-in captain, Suryakumar Yadav, brought him for the second in the 13th over. 

 

In the first ball of the over, he tossed up a delivery on a length that drifted into the pads of the debutante. Raghuwanshi stepped down the track to work the ball to the leg side but was deceived in the flight. 

 

He failed to get his bat fully in front of his pads, resulting in a thick inside edge that struck his pads and lobbed back toward the bowler. Watching the ball, Raghu quickly moved to his right and took a simple return catch.

 

After getting the wicket, Raghu had a quick celebration and then pulled out a slip of paper. Suryakumar, along with Jasprit Bumrah and others, gathered around him, trying to understand what's written on it. Fans, meanwhile, have figured out what's written on there. It was basically gratitude for MI forgiving him the chance. It said,

 

"A very painful 15 years by divine Mercy of Gurudev ended today. Thanks Mumbai Indians (Blue and Gold) for giving me this opportunity. Ever Greatful. JAI SRI RAM"

 

 

 

Last year, a similar gesture became famous from Abhishek Sharma when he smashed a century against Punjab Kings in Hyderabad. That piece said, "for the Orange Army," as Abhishek dedicated the ton for the Sunrisers Hyderabad fans.

 

Read also: IPL 2026: Allah Ghazanfar breaks Harbhajan Singh record for Mumbai Indians in MI vs LSG Clash

 

The 15-years of Raghu Sharma

 

Born in Punjab's Jalandhar, the legspinner went through a lot before getting his chance to feature in the Indian Premier League. His career marked repeated rejection and physical transition.

 

Coming from an educated family of doctors and engineers, he chose cricket as late as when he was 18. In 25, he got dropped from the Punjab domestic squad for being "too old."

 

Well, it's not that he started as a spinner. A hamstring injury that prohibited him from doing fast bowling and fandom for the Australian legendary spin bowler made him a leg spinner as well.

 

However, chances never knocked on his door. He changed teams and moved to Puducherry, looking for a chance. He even played club cricket in England and Sri Lanka when he ran out of options in Indian domestic cricket.

 

After eight years of waiting since his first trial in 2017, he was signed as an injury replacement for the Mumbai Indians in 2025. And then the debut came on May 2nd against Chennai Super Kings. He came in as an impact sub, played four overs with the lowest economy of 6, but was wicketless until his night came today.