Karan Sharma credits Sachin Tendulkar for inspiring his cricketing journey

Karan Sharma has credited Sachin Tendulkar as his biggest cricketing idol since childhood. The UP batter's passion for the game was shaped by both his father's admiration for the legendary batter and his own early exposure to Tendulkar's batting style. Sharma's connection to cricket began when his father gave him a bat during his childhood, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to professional cricket.

Sharma met Tendulkar during his IPL stint with Lucknow Super Giants, though the encounter was brief. The young batter has expressed his desire to engage in deeper conversations with his idol about cricket and life beyond that initial handshake.

"My cricket idol has always been Sachin sir. During the IPL, I met him. There was just a handshake with him. I wasn't able to chat with him. I want to discuss cricket with him," Sharma said to Hindustan Times.

"I want to learn how he went about his business in sport and life. I want to learn from him. My father is a very big cricket fan. He gave me a bat early on in childhood, and since then, I have been a lover of the game. I then started watching Sachin sir bat, and I used to switch off the TV when he got out. By watching him, I developed a passion for the game. But my love for cricket initially was through my father," he added.

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Tendulkar's influence shaped Sharma's approach to the sport from an early age. Watching the legendary batter play inspired him to develop his own passion for cricket, with Tendulkar's style and dedication serving as a model for his own career. Sharma's performances in the UP T20 League have reflected his commitment to the sport, with the batter leading the batting charts with 361 runs in the fourth edition of the tournament.

Team character and resilience during the season

Sharma and Kashi Rudras experienced a challenging mid-season phase but demonstrated resilience in their comeback efforts. The team lost several matches midway through the tournament but showed character and determination in their recovery.

"This season has been really good for us. The way we started, I was expecting a lot more, but we lost 3-4 matches midway. It feels good to make a comeback once you lose a few matches. Kashi Rudras has always been a team that wants to show its character. It has been really exciting," Sharma said.

"In the last two matches, there was a change in our mindset and attitude. We have shown passion, and it is really important in our sport. Once you lose 3-4 matches, your body language drops, but it feels different once you pick yourself up from there. The fire was missing, but we have it back now," he added.

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Leading run-getter and personal milestones

Sharma finished the season as the leading run-getter, earning the Orange Cap for his consistent performances. However, the batter emphasised that individual accolades remain secondary to team success in his approach to the game.

"I am the leading run-getter this season. It feels good to have the Orange Cap, but at the same time, it is a byproduct. For me, the team is important. I never play for personal milestones. I just want to make the team win," Sharma said.

"You just always want to follow and repeat the process. I didn't have any goals or expectations for this season. In this season, I just wanted to let it flow. Whatever God has decided, it will happen," he added.