India’s ace all-rounder Deepti Sharma has decided to represent Uttar Pradesh ahead of the upcoming domestic season, moving on from Bengal where she has been a mainstay since 2017.
Sharma has been a key member of the Indian women’s cricket team, recently featuring in the Women’s Asia Cup, where she was the leading wicket-taker with 10 wickets in the ninth edition of the tournament.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehashish Ganguly stated, “Deepti has got a job with the Uttar Pradesh police, and that’s why she wanted to shift there. We have already issued her an NOC.”
In January 2024, Deepti was honored with the post of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) by the Uttar Pradesh government.
Raised in Agra, Deepti Sharma initially represented Uttar Pradesh in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 domestic seasons before moving to Bengal in the 2017-18 season. She was convinced by Indian legend Jhulan Goswami and others in the Bengal women’s setup to make the switch.
In her debut season for Bengal, she was the top run-scorer, amassing 312 runs at an average of 104 in six matches with an impressive strike rate of 65.13 in the senior women’s One-Day Trophy. She continued her outstanding form when Bengal were crowned champions in the 2018-19 senior women’s one-day league season. Deepti was the leading run-scorer with 487 runs in 11 matches and also grabbed 22 wickets that season. She has been a prominent figure in Bengal since her move in 2017.
Despite reports of Deepti Sharma’s possible exit from the Bengal team in 2023, CAB officials had previously convinced her to stay. However, Sharma’s return to Uttar Pradesh is expected to significantly boost the state’s team in the upcoming domestic season. She also plays for the UP Warriors in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and was the MVP in the 2024 edition.
(Inputs sourced from Sportstar)
