Indian-origin cricketer Pushkar Sharma: From Mumbai Under-16 captain to Kenya’s national team

(May 31, 2026) Pushkar Sharma is an Indian-origin Kenyan cricketer who plays for Kenya’s national cricket team. A former Mumbai Under-16 captain, his cricketing journey took an unexpected turn when he moved to Kenya as a teenager. Starting from scratch in Nairobi, he worked his way through the domestic ranks to earn a place in Kenya’s national team and has since become part of the country’s efforts to restore its stature in international cricket.

“India gave me my cricket foundation, while Kenya gave me the platform to achieve my international cricket dreams,” Pushkar Sharma tells The Global Indian.

Raised in Mumbai’s fiercely competitive cricket ecosystem, he appeared set for a conventional age-group cricket pathway in India. However an unexpected move to Kenya opened a new chapter. Today, the Indian-origin cricketer represents Kenya in international cricket, a country he first arrived in nearly a decade ago with little idea of what lay ahead.

Early years: Making a name in Mumbai cricket

Pushkar’s cricketing foundations were laid at Al-Barkat Malik Mohammad Islam English School in Mumbai. The school’s cricket team enjoyed considerable success, winning major competitions including the prestigious Giles Shield and Harris Shield tournaments.

Strong performances in those tournaments helped Pushkar come to the attention of Mumbai selectors, opening the door to representative cricket and setting him on the city’s highly competitive age-group pathway.

In 2014, he was selected for the Mumbai Under-16 camp and later captained the Mumbai Under-16 team, a significant achievement in a city renowned for producing international cricketers. “It was a proud moment for me, especially because talented players like Prithvi Shaw were part of the squad under my leadership,” he mentions.

Following his Under-16 stint, Pushkar continued his progression through Mumbai’s Under-19 structure, gaining experience in one of the world’s most competitive cricket environments.

The city’s cricket culture left a lasting impact on him. Growing up in Mumbai taught him the value of discipline, consistency, hard work and respect for senior players that would later prove invaluable in a very different setting.

A life-changing move

In 2017, Pushkar’s life changed dramatically when his father passed away after battling cancer. Amid the personal loss, an opportunity emerged to move to Kenya, where he could pursue club cricket alongside a professional job opportunity. It was not a move he had anticipated while playing age-group cricket in Mumbai, but it offered a chance to continue both his sporting and professional aspirations.

Relocating to Kenya meant leaving behind familiar surroundings, established networks and the cricket structure in which he had grown up. It also meant starting afresh in a country whose cricket ecosystem was still evolving. Over time, the unfamiliar environment became home.

As a cricketer, every player dreams of playing international cricket and representing a nation at ICC events. Although my roots are in India, Kenya has given me an opportunity to continue my cricket journey and grow both personally and professionally.

Pushkar Sharma

Learning a new cricketing landscape

Years in the game had taught Pushkar that cricket rewards patience, consistency and belief as much as talent. Results do not always arrive immediately, but the ability to continue working through difficult phases often determines how far a player progresses.

One of the biggest adjustments after arriving in Kenya was adapting to a different cricket structure. While Mumbai cricket is known for its depth and fierce competition at every level, Kenya’s system operates on a smaller scale and is still developing. Pushkar quickly realised, however, that the country offered opportunities to players who could perform consistently.

The NPCA/NCCA league became his primary platform. Playing as an opening batsman, he established himself through consistent performances and gradually earned recognition within Kenyan cricket circles. Those performances eventually helped him earn an opportunity to represent Kenya.

Staying the course through uncertainty

The early years in Kenya were not always smooth. Like many athletes around the world, Pushkar faced significant uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic when cricket came to a standstill. With competitions suspended and opportunities limited, there were moments when he questioned his future in the country and even considered returning to India.

Faith played an important role during this period. “I always believed that hard work and faith would eventually bring the right results.” He believes that what has happened in his life, what is happening now and what lies ahead are all part of a larger plan. That perspective helped him remain patient when cricket came to a standstill and opportunities appeared limited.

Looking back on the journey from league cricket in Nairobi to the international stage, Pushkar says he feels grateful to God for every opportunity and blessing that came his way.

Achieving an international dream

National honours followed, built on years of consistent performances and perseverance. Today, representing Kenya remains the milestone he values most. “Representing Kenya at the international level would definitely be the milestone that makes me the happiest.”

Wearing the Kenyan jersey is a matter of great pride and responsibility for me. It means representing not only myself, but also the people who trusted and supported me throughout my journey. I always try to give my best on the field and contribute positively to Kenyan cricket. Balancing both identities is very special to me.

Pushkar Sharma

Balancing two careers

Away from the cricket field, Pushkar has also built a professional career. He worked as Marketing Manager at Hirani Telecommunications Ltd, balancing the demands of full-time employment with training, domestic competitions and international commitments.

He credits the company’s Director, Mansukh Hirani, for supporting his sporting ambitions. “He always understood my passion for
cricket and supported me whenever I had training sessions, matches, or national team commitments. Without his encouragement and support, it would have been very difficult for me to manage both my professional career and cricket together,” he says “So, I always give a lot of credit to him for being an important part of my journey.”

Bringing Mumbai lessons to a diverse dressing room

The values of discipline, hard work, dedication, respect for seniors and composure under pressure that he learned in Mumbai remain central to Pushkar’s approach.

At the same time, playing for Kenya has exposed him to teammates from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. The Kenyan dressing room brings together players with different experiences, perspectives and cricketing journeys. Rather than seeing those differences as barriers, Pushkar regards them as strengths. He places importance on maintaining positive energy within the team, supporting teammates and leading through commitment and work ethic.

For me, teamwork is one of the biggest strengths in cricket, and I believe respecting each other’s cultures and backgrounds helps create a stronger team both on and off the field.

Pushkar Sharma

Looking beyond personal milestones

While international representation remains his proudest achievement, Pushkar Sharma’s ambitions increasingly focus on the future of Kenyan cricket.

“My dreams for Kenyan cricket are very big.” He hopes to see the national team return regularly to ICC events and compete once again against the world’s leading cricket nations. One of his biggest aspirations is to see Kenya playing at ICC World Cups again and challenging top teams on a consistent basis.

Kenya’s cricket history, he believes, demonstrates that such aspirations are achievable with the right support and development structures.

A key part of that vision involves nurturing younger players and helping create pathways for the next generation. Pushkar believes the country possesses both talent and potential, but that progress will require sustained support, hard work and investment in young cricketers.

Ultimately, he says, every cricketer wants to make the country they represent proud, and he hopes his own performances can contribute to that objective.

The milestone that means the most

Representing Kenya at the international level remains his proudest achievement. The significance lies not only in the accomplishment itself but also in everything that preceded it. The path included personal loss, migration, uncertainty and years of perseverance. He often reflects on the fact that he never abandoned his ambitions despite setbacks, uncertainty and the challenge of rebuilding his life in a different country.

“I never gave up on my dream, even during difficult times.” Seeing his family, teammates and supporters take pride in his achievements remains one of the most rewarding aspects of his career and continues to motivate him to work harder.

The support system behind the journey

Throughout his career, Pushkar has benefited from support both within and outside cricket. Among the organisations he acknowledges most prominently is IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company, which has supported him since 2019. 

“For me, IndiaFirst is not just a company—it has been like a family.” He credits Ajish Rehman and Ramana Masala for recognising his cricketing potential and supporting him from an early stage. Pushkar also represented the IndiaFirst cricket team in 2018, an experience he considers an important chapter in his development.

He reserves particular praise for Llyoyd Monteiro and Praveen Menon, noting that they consistently found solutions during difficult situations and supported him both professionally and personally. He says he has rarely encountered HR leaders who invested so deeply in the people around them.

He remains in touch with IndiaFirst’s CEO Rushabh Gandhi and continues sharing updates from his cricketing journey and experiences with him. ” I would also like to sincerely thank senior members like Mr. Sunder Natarajan, Rohini Ma’am, Gargi Ma’am, Wilma Ma’am, Abhijeet Sir, and Jatin Sir for their continuous encouragement and support,” he adds.

For Pushkar Sharma, these relationships illustrate how sporting careers are often sustained by a broader community of supporters working behind the scenes.

The road ahead

The crickter’s immediate focus remains on improving as a cricketer and contributing consistently to the Kenyan national team. He hopes to represent Kenya in more ICC events and major international tournaments while continuing to grow professionally off the field. Beyond improving as a player, he wants to continue making his family, supporters and those who believed in him proud.

He also hopes his journey can encourage younger cricketers facing setbacks, uncertainty or personal challenges to remain patient and committed to their goals.

Coming from school cricket and Mumbai age-group cricket to wearing the Kenyan jersey was never an easy journey. There were many struggles, personal challenges, and moments of uncertainty, especially after losing my father and moving to a completely new country. That is why every opportunity to represent Kenya feels very special to me.

Pushkar Sharma

For a cricketer whose journey has taken him from Mumbai’s school grounds to international cricket in Nairobi, the next chapter is still being written. The principles that carried him across countries and challenges continue to shape the road ahead.

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