Amelia Kerr, the 25-year-old White Ferns all-rounder, embodies resilience in women’s cricket, a child prodigy who burst onto the scene at 16, shattered records with a historic 232* in ODIs, and battled depression and anxiety to emerge stronger.
From her debut against Pakistan at Lincoln on November 9, 2016, Kerr has redefined versatility, amassing 1,453 T20I runs at a strike rate of 109.74 (average 27.94, 5 half-centuries in 70 innings across 88 matches) and 95 wickets at an economy of 6.09 (average 20.37, two four-wicket hauls in 86 innings). In ODIs, her 2,304 runs come at a strike rate of 81.84 (average 41.14, 10 half-centuries, 4 centuries in 71 innings), paired with 106 wickets at 4.61 economy (average 30.61, 6 four-wicket hauls, one fifer in 84 matches).
As New Zealand gears up for the 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales (June 12 to July 5, 2026), Kerr’s story, from personal lows to leading wicket-taker in WPL 2026 for the Mumbai Indians, reminds us that true champions conquer more than opposition.
Kerr’s ascent began in a cricket-mad family; her grandfather, parents, and sister Jess are all pros. Debuting in T20Is on November 21, 2016, at Nelson, she quickly scaled heights. Her pinnacle arrived on June 13, 2018, against Ireland in Dublin: an unbeaten 232 off 145 balls, the highest individual score in Women’s ODIs, followed by career-best figures of 5-17 off 7 overs, sealing a 305-run win. Touted as the next big thing by 2020.
Amelia Kerr has already won a T20 World Cup with the White Ferns (in 2024) and a couple of WPL titles with the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Mumbai Indians franchise. Yet, beneath the stats and her achievements lay unseen battles. “In 2020, I guess I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety,” Kerr shared in a candid Mumbai Indians chat. “The weight just became unbearable; it was no doubt the absolute lowest I’ve ever been in life.”
Sent home from a New Zealand training camp for safety, she watched her stoic father break down, a moment that shattered her. “I felt as though I was sitting in a room watching my own funeral,” she recalled. Sister Jess noted, “Cricket was such a safe place, but between the moments of playing games and training, she did have a lot of moments of sadness.”
Healing came through family, senior teammates like idol Suzie Bates, and cricket itself. “It actually takes a lot of work, and you need a good support network, but ultimately, you have to really help yourself. To be willing to do that at my lowest is something I am proud of,” Amelia Kerr added on, reflecting on having a breakthrough after a tough incident.
Returning stronger, Kerr shone in the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India (September 30–November 2), scoring 137 runs (strike rate 67.15, average 27.40 in 5 innings across 7 matches) and taking 7 wickets (average 42.85, economy 4.83 in 7 innings). Though India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur and coach Amol Muzumdar, claimed their maiden title, beating South Africa at DY Patil Stadium, Kerr’s grit stood out.
Now, in the ongoing 4th Women’s Premier League (January 9–February 5, 2026), Kerr stars for champions Mumbai Indians (MI), captained by Kaur. The leg-spinner leads MI’s wickets with 12 at 15.33 average and 7.66 economy in 6 matches, joint-third overall alongside Delhi Capitals’ N Sree Charani.
MI (6 points, NRR +0.146) eye playoffs ahead of their January 30 clash with Gujarat Giants (GG), a must-win for a top two finish, though an 8-0 Head-to-head record favours them. A win secures Eliminator; a loss needs RCB to beat UPW Thursday and UPW to edge DC Sunday without denting MI’s NRR cushion (ahead of UPW by 110+ runs). Fans chant “Mumbai-Kerr,” turning the nickname into belonging.
“Cricket was always my happy place,” Kerr says. From rock bottom to WPL dominance, her journey proves cricket heals. As the T20 World Cup looms, millions of girls see in her not just records, but proof that imperfect paths lead to glory: “Our journey doesn’t have to look perfect to be meaningful. You just have to keep finding your way back to what feels true.”
(Quotes sourced from Mumbai Indians)
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