Chetan Sharma: India's First World Cup Hat-Trick Hero

Chetan Sharma was a right-arm fast-medium bowler from Ludhiana, Punjab who played 23 Tests for India from 1984 to 1988, taking 61 wickets at an average of 40.29, and who achieved the most celebrated moment of his career in the 1987 ICC Cricket World Cup in India and Pakistan. Bowling against New Zealand at Nagpur on October 31, 1987, Sharma dismissed Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield with consecutive deliveries — the first hat-trick in World Cup history. The feat brought Sharma immediate fame and made him one of the landmark figures in limited-overs cricket history. His pace bowling — he bowled at around 130-135 km/h with the ability to swing the ball and generate seam movement in Indian conditions — made him useful when conditions suited. His Test record of 61 wickets at 40-plus was modest, but his limited-overs contributions and the World Cup hat-trick give him an enduring place in Indian cricket history. He later served as a national selector and as head of the senior selection committee.

1987 World Cup Hat-Trick

Sharma's hat-trick against New Zealand at Nagpur in 1987 was the first in World Cup history — preceding subsequent hat-tricks by Saqlain Mushtaq, Brett Lee and others in the event. He dismissed Ken Rutherford (caught), Ian Smith (caught) and Ewen Chatfield (lbw) in successive deliveries. The feat generated enormous excitement in India and made Sharma a household name, even though India failed to win the World Cup — losing to England in the semi-finals.

Bowling Style and Domestic Career

Sharma was a right-arm fast-medium bowler who relied on swing and seam movement rather than raw pace. He was effective in the 1980s Indian conditions, where atmospheric moisture and early-morning freshness could assist conventional swing, and he had the ability to generate movement off the seam on both red and white balls. His domestic career for Haryana was productive and earned him consistent selection for India through the mid-1980s.