Gopal Sharma is a former Indian cricketer who played five Tests and 11 ODIs for India between 1985 and 1990. He was born on August 3, 1960, in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He was a right-arm off-spinner who batted right-handed, and he played his domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh from 1978/79 to 1993/94.
Gopal Sharma made his Test debut against England on January 31, 1985, at Green Park in his home city of Kanpur. His ODI debut came against Sri Lanka on August 25, 1985. His last ODI was against Pakistan on April 10, 1987, and his last Test was against Sri Lanka on November 23, 1990.
Gopal Sharma was mainly a bowler. He took 10 wickets in Tests and 10 wickets in ODIs. His best Test figures were 4 for 88 against Pakistan at Jaipur in the 1986-87 season. In ODIs his best was 3 for 29. With the bat he scored 11 runs in Tests and 11 runs in ODIs.
He found it hard to hold a regular place in the Indian team. Spinners such as Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Maninder Singh, Ravi Shastri, Shivlal Yadav, Arshad Ayub and Narendra Hirwani were also competing for spots in the same period. He was later left out until a single Test against Sri Lanka in the 1990-91 season.
Gopal Sharma played 104 first-class matches and took 353 wickets at an average of 30.01, with best figures of 9 for 59. He also scored 2,309 first-class runs, including two centuries and a highest score of 101 not out. In List A cricket he played 44 matches and took 45 wickets.
After his playing days, Gopal Sharma worked as a national selector. In 2005 he was named to India's senior selection panel as the Central Zone member, with Kiran More as chairman.
Gopal Sharma Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| Test | 5 | 11 | 10 | 4/88 |
| ODI | 11 | 11 | 10 | 3/29 |
| First-class | 104 | 2,309 | 353 | 9/59 |
| List A | 44 | 157 | 45 | 5/42 |
Gopal Sharma Date of Birth: August 3, 1960
Gopal Sharma Place of Birth: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Gopal Sharma Playing Role: Bowler (off-spinner)
Gopal Sharma Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Gopal Sharma Bowling Style: Right-arm offbreak
Gopal Sharma Teams Represented: India, Uttar Pradesh
Frequently asked questions
Who is Gopal Sharma the cricketer?
Gopal Sharma is a former Indian cricketer who played five Tests and 11 ODIs for India between 1985 and 1990. He was a right-arm off-spinner from Uttar Pradesh.
When and where was Gopal Sharma born?
Gopal Sharma was born on August 3, 1960, in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
What type of bowler was Gopal Sharma?
He was a right-arm off-spin bowler who batted right-handed.
When did Gopal Sharma make his Test debut?
He made his Test debut against England on January 31, 1985, at Green Park in Kanpur.
How many Tests and ODIs did Gopal Sharma play?
He played five Tests and 11 ODIs for India.
How many international wickets did Gopal Sharma take?
He took 10 wickets in Tests and 10 wickets in ODIs. His best Test figures were 4 for 88 against Pakistan at Jaipur.
Which domestic team did Gopal Sharma play for?
He played domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh from 1978/79 to 1993/94.
What are Gopal Sharma's first-class stats?
He played 104 first-class matches and took 353 wickets at an average of 30.01. He also scored 2,309 first-class runs.
When did Gopal Sharma play his last Test?
His last Test was against Sri Lanka on November 23, 1990.
Was Gopal Sharma an Indian selector?
Yes. In 2005 he was named to India's senior selection panel as the Central Zone member, with Kiran More as chairman.
