(June 7, 2025) Pushkar Sharma isn’t just chasing a dream — he’s carrying a nation’s hope – a country he now calls home. This August, Sharma will walk out in Kenya’s green and red jersey in Jersey (Channel Islands), where the second round of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League A takes center stage — a crucial step on the long road to the 2027 ODI World Cup. And leading Kenya’s charge is a soft-spoken, left-handed batsman from India who has steadily become one of Kenya’s most reliable performers.
Sharma, born in India’s cricket-obsessed heartland, will walk out with a bat in hand and a story few international cricketers can match. In the first round of the Challenge League in Nairobi, he scored 195 runs across five matches, including gritty fifties against Denmark and Kuwait. His journey from the dusty grounds of Maharashtra to the heart of Kenyan cricket has been anything but easy. It’s a story built on loss, grit, and quiet determination. In a team trying to find its feet again on the world stage, Sharma brings something rare—a blend of two cultures — Indian by birth, Kenyan by choice — and reflects how cricket is evolving beyond borders. In a sport that’s becoming more global every year, Sharma is part of a new kind of story. He’s not just playing for runs or records; he’s proof that cricket can belong to anyone, anywhere, if they’ve got the heart for it.
Pushkar Sharma
From the Maidans of Maharashtra
Pushkar Sharma’s cricket story didn’t begin in Nairobi. It began in the narrow lanes of Badlapur, a modest town on the outskirts of Mumbai, where the buzz of local trains often drowned out the sound of tennis-ball cricket being played in crowded alleys. Like many Indian boys, Pushkar’s introduction to the game came through a television set and a cricket-obsessed household.
“During that time I decided that I also wanted to be on TV like the cricketers I was watching,” Sharma once said in an interview. His father took it seriously and got him enrolled in a cricket academy, and before long, Sharma was making runs and turning heads.
He moved from Greater Noida to Mumbai to pursue the sport more seriously, enrolling at Al Barkaat Malik English School—an institution known for producing age-group talent. He captained the Mumbai Under-16 team in 2014–15, which also had Prithvi Shaw in the squad. At the time, no one would have expected Sharma to be the one who played international cricket first—even if it wasn’t for India.
A Personal Tragedy and a Bold Move
The turning point in Sharma’s life came in 2017. His father, the man who had been his constant cheerleader, passed away after battling cancer. The loss was devastating—not just emotionally, but financially. At just 16, Sharma found himself at a crossroads: should he continue pursuing cricket, or take on the responsibilities suddenly resting on his shoulders?
“My family wasn’t doing well financially after my father’s death. We were in debt… we were struggling,” he recalled in a candid conversation with Times of India. He started exploring options beyond India, reaching out to cricket boards in associate nations—places where opportunities came faster and the competition for spots was less suffocating.
One of those responses came from Kenya. Sharma didn’t hesitate. “No one forced me to move to Kenya… I received an offer to play cricket and work there. It was a good opportunity as my family was facing a financial crunch,” he said.
So, at 18, he boarded a flight to Nairobi, with nothing but a bat, a dream, and the quiet determination to start over.
Settling Into Nairobi Life
His early days in Kenya were anything but glamorous. He joined Ruaraka Sports Club and began playing in the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) league. He worked during the day and played at night, sometimes going without proper meals or gear. But slowly, things began to click.
In 2021, he finished as the highest run-scorer in the NPCA league, racking up 841 runs in 14 matches, including four centuries. In 2022, he repeated his form with 518 more runs. That consistency caught the attention of national selectors.
Pushkar Sharma
He also did well in Kenya’s T20 leagues, especially while playing for Nakuru Leopards in the ACPL T20. He scored 228 runs and took five wickets, including three in the final. His performances finally earned him a call-up to the national team.
Earning the Cap
In late 2022, Sharma became eligible to play for Kenya after completing his three-year residency. He made his debut in a T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifier in Rwanda. “It was a dream come true. The wait was long but sweet,” he said. He opened the innings with veteran Collins Obuya and played with confidence. He top-scored with a quick 33 against Seychelles and also took a few wickets with his off-spin when needed.
His debut wasn’t just a personal milestone—it marked a shift in how cricket in associate nations could benefit from global movement. Sharma, with his Indian roots and Kenyan jersey, symbolized a hybrid cricketing identity that was becoming more common—and more vital.
By 2024, he had become one of Kenya’s key batters in both white-ball formats. His performances in the Challenge League cemented that status. As Kenya eyes a return to cricketing relevance, Sharma is not just a participant—he’s a cornerstone.
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Holding On to Home
Despite making a life in Nairobi, Sharma has never let go of his Indian roots. He speaks to his mother daily. His spiritual connection to India remains strong. “When I go back to India, I will go to Edmatpur to pay my respects to my Guruji,” he said. “I am here because of God’s blessings and the support of my family.”
Gautam Gambhir remains his cricketing idol. “I admire him because I’m also an opener. I’ve learnt so much from watching his innings,” he said. And in terms of leadership, it’s Dhoni who influences him most. “Dhoni is my heartbeat,” he said in one interview. “His calmness, the way he leads under pressure—I try to apply that to my own game.”
Sharma even credits Indian cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal—his old friend from Mumbai—for helping him during tough times. “He gave me some gear when I was struggling. I won’t forget that.”
A Life Rebuilt, A Future Defined
In December 2023, Sharma got married in Nairobi. A year later, he welcomed his first child. He now plans to bring his mother to live with him in Kenya—a full-circle moment for a boy who left home to rebuild life on foreign soil.
But even with a settled life, his ambitions remain sharp. “Now that I’m playing for the Kenyan national team, my focus is to score runs and then think about playing in the IPL or other big T20 leagues,” he said.
He was confident about Kenya’s chances even before the 2024 T20 World Cup. “I am confident Kenya will play in the 2024 World Cup… Our team is really good,” he had said after a T20 qualifier. That same belief carries over now, as Kenya turns its focus to the 2027 ODI World Cup campaign — and Sharma remains at the heart of it.
The Bigger Picture
Pushkar Sharma’s story isn’t just about cricket. It’s about starting over, finding support in a new place, and working hard—often without the spotlight—to turn a personal setback into something bigger for himself and for Kenya.
He didn’t grow up dreaming of playing for Kenya. But when India became out of reach, he didn’t give up—he found another path. And in doing so, he’s helped elevate not just his own life, but the fortunes of a cricketing nation that once stunned the world and is now hoping to do it again.
Sharma is part of that revival. And come August in Jersey, when he takes guard under grey skies far from both Mumbai and Nairobi, he won’t just be batting for Kenya—he’ll be batting for every cricketer who’s ever dared to start over.
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