A gifted, aggressive batsman, Sharad Lumba is about to begin his journey with Mumbai Indians. He has been persistent in his chase to play at the higher level and now he has landed himself an opportunity to shine at the most celebrated platform in the country. Sharad hails from Punjab and his positive approach towards the game has led him to the biggest cricket carnival of the country – VIVO Indian Premier League. Mumbai Indians picked Sharad Lumba at the auction and the world saw it, but Sharad didn’t. There’s an interesting story behind it. “Frankly, I was not watching it. My father was watching it while I was attending my friend’s wedding. When he told me, he was elated. He told me that Mumbai Indians picked me at the auction. I couldn’t believe it. I was really happy to know it.”

Sharad’s family was brimming with happiness when they realized that Sharad will be a part of MI squad; especially his father, who had immense faith in him. “My father is extremely happy. He always believed in me. He saw me work hard, even when I was not getting enough opportunities to play in some of the matches. He believed that someday I will get a deserved chance. It was an unbelievable moment for every one of us when I got selected in the Mumbai Indians team.”

This is just a start for Sharad, as a long journey awaits him. He is aware that without giving his best, he won’t be able to establish himself. “I have always stressed a lot on my preparations. Whenever there is a match, I like to make sure I’m 100% prepared for it. I always believe that sincerity always works. If you’re sincere enough about your work, sooner or later, it pays you back. That’s the motto of my life. I firmly believe in hard work, and that is what I have always stuck onto since the beginning. I would like to continue doing the same.”

The schedule for VIVO IPL 2018 is out and just like fans, the players too are looking forward to some specific fixtures. Sharad is excited to ply against CSK, KXIP and RCB. “I’m looking forward to the opening match itself, against CSK. It is like a dream match as I will get to play against MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina. Also, our senior from Punjab, the most respected Bhajji paaji, will be playing in the CSK side. I’m eager to play against them and do well for MI. Also, as I am from Punjab, I would like to play against KXIP. I’ve some great memories playing at Mohali Stadium, so I’m eagerly waiting to play that fixture. The third one will be RCB. I am a big fan of Virat Kohli. His dedication and hard work is something I admire. I’d love to see him play and I want to observe how he prepares himself before the match. All these things are worth learning a lot from the tournament.”

Apart from the matches, this will be the first time Sharad will be meeting and practicing alongside the international players and world class coaching staff. The nervousness and the anticipation of getting started is always obvious, but Sharad knows what he wants to learn to become a better player. “Our coach, Mahela Jayawardene, was a phenomenal player. I’m keen to know him. Also, the other staff of this team were phenomenal players in their era. I will get to learn a lot from them. I was always waiting for this opportunity. I will try to take and learn as much as I can while I’m here. Our captain, Rohit Sharma, everyone knows how talented he is. I’m a big fan of the way he hits the ball. I’m waiting to share the dressing room with him. I feel I can learn a lot from him in terms of hard-work and mental strength. I’m extremely excited to see everyone. When it comes to nervousness, then I think about Sachin sir. He’s the God of cricket. So, naturally I get a bit nervous when I see him. He’s such a big name, standing in front of him itself is a big thing for me. It is a dream come true.”

Paltan’s support is always crucial for any MI player. Sharad knows that the support from our Paltan can boost him to do wonders on the ground. “Firstly, I would like to thank Paltan for supporting me. I will always try to work as hard as I can. I have a firm belief in my abilities. Having self-belief is very important for any player, so I’ll ask Paltan to motivate me to strengthen my self-belief. I’ll be the happiest person if I can contribute to Mumbai Indians to win the trophy.”