Sharma ready to take on the world
Shivam Sharma is returning to where his cricket journey began next February.
Growing up in India, Sharma started playing the sport at age 12.
Years later, after moving to Montreal for university, then settling in Winnipeg, he'll return playing on his biggest stage yet — representing Team Canada in the 2026 Men's T20 Cricket World Cup.
SUPPLIED
Shivam Sharma was named best bowler of the four-country Americas Qualifier tournament on Sunday after Team Canada qualified for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a six-wicket win over Bermuda.
Canada secured its spot in the World Cup on Saturday at the 2025 ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier, in King City, Ont., with Sharma, the only Manitoban on the team, helping lead a dominant run through the tournament. The team went 6-0 in an eight-day, double round-robin format against the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands.
'It's a dream for every cricketer to play at the big stage and to play for your country and represent your country in the World Cups,' said Sharma. 'So, I was feeling really grateful and blessed. I'm looking forward to this opportunity, and I'm feeling very happy.'
With a seven-wicket win over the Bahamas on Saturday, along with Bermuda losing to the Cayman Islands, Team Canada celebrated, knowing they would be heading to host countries India and Sri Lanka from February to March 2026 for a chance at a T20 World Cup title. On Sunday, they ended the tournament strong with a six-wicket win over Bermuda.
'In all three aspects, we did really well,' said Sharma. 'Our batting, bowling, fielding, everybody was giving their one hundred per cent, and the execution was really good.'
Sharma made his Team Canada debut in April at the North America Cup in the Cayman Islands, where Canada finished second behind the United States. He also competed in Florida at the end of May, playing in the International Cricket Council World Cup League 2 tournament.
Sharma has seemed right at home with his new national team, earning Best Bowler of the Series and taking three wickets in Canada's qualifying game against the Bahamas.
When he's not playing on the big stages with Team Canada, Sharma competes with the Cosmos Cricket Club in Winnipeg.
'I moved to Winnipeg because I had my cousins here,' said Sharma. 'So I was not playing for the first couple years, I didn't play cricket in Canada. And then I came here, I met Ray Ramrattan, my manager of the team, and he motivated me to play, play for his club.'
Ramrattan says the hard work and discipline Sharma has shown over the four years on the Cosmos have been remarkable on his journey to the national team.
'You can spot people who work for things, and go for things, and he's one of the people that has done that,' said Ramrattan. 'The fact that he's achieved it and continued to play good cricket, from where I am sitting, I feel very proud. I'm happy that he got where he is, happy that our club was there to help him maintain a good standard of training and competition over the years. And when he got this opportunity, he seized it, and from the moment he stepped onto the field, Shivam gave his best and he played and he earned the respect of the team.'
The Cosmos, an elite team in Winnipeg that has won the past three championships in the top division of the Manitoba Cricket Association, also includes Jatinder (Sunny) Matharu, a member of Team Canada since 2021, although he did not play in this year's World Cup Qualifiers.
In the Florida tournament in May, Matharu and Sharma played together, marking the first time two Cosmos players have been on the same national team in the organization's 46-year history.
Sharma says the support from Cosmos head coach Raza Ali and teammate Matharu has been great.
'I feel really grateful for all the people there, they're close to me, they're really nice, and they're pushing me forward to the big stages,' said Sharma.
Sharma will be participating in the second T20 World Cup Canada has qualified for, and will be working closely with Ali in the coming months to prepare.
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'For the last few years, Sunny has been carrying responsibility of being an inspiration of young cricketers in Manitoba,' said Ramrattan. 'Now that Shivam is there as well, together they share that role, and I know people look up to them.'
Canada joins host nations India and Sri Lanka, along with Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States, the West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan who have already qualified for the World Cup.
The final seven spots will be determined through upcoming continental qualifiers in Europe, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region.
'I grew up there, so obviously really excited,' said Sharma. 'It's a hub of cricket, so it's going to be very exciting for me. And at the same time, it's a big opportunity for each and every player over there.'
zoe.pierce@freepress.mb.ca
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