Deepti Bhagwan Sharma has grown into one of the most dependable all-rounders in Indian women’s cricket. As she celebrates her 29th birthday today, the left-hand batter and right-arm offspinner can look back on a career filled with big performances, important wickets and memorable records. She has remained a regular part of India’s set-up across formats and has often made an impact when the team has needed her most. Her biggest performance came in the 2025 ODI World Cup final, where she played a major role in India’s first global title.
The beginning of Deepti Sharma
Born on August 24, 1997, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Deepti developed an interest in cricket when she was nine years old. She often went with her brother Sumit Sharma, a former Uttar Pradesh pacer who initially coached her, to watch practice sessions and matches. During one such session at the Ekalavya Sports Stadium in Agra, Deepti made a direct hit on the stumps from a distance of about 50 metres. The throw caught the attention of former India player and selector Hemlata Kala, who then took Deepti under her wing. That moment played an important role in starting her cricket journey.
Deepti Sharma’s Inspiration
Deepti is a left-hand batter who bowls right-arm offspin and also takes pride in her fielding. She idolised fellow Uttar Pradesh player Suresh Raina while growing up. Her senior domestic career began with Uttar Pradesh in the 2014-15 season, when she was only 16. She later moved to Bengal, where she played from 2017-18 to 2023-24 before returning to Uttar Pradesh. During her time in domestic cricket, she became known as a reliable offspinner who could trouble batters with changes in speed. She also developed into a useful lower-middle-order batter for India.
Deepti Sharma’s International Journey Begins
Her first major international breakthrough came with her ODI debut against South Africa in Bengaluru on November 28, 2014. Three years later, she produced one of the most memorable batting performances of her career against Ireland. Deepti scored 188 in the ODI and shared a 320-run opening partnership with Poonam Raut. The stand became a world record and helped India post 358 for three in 50 overs. The performance showed that Deepti could make a major contribution with the bat as well as the ball. It also became one of the biggest early milestones of her international career.
Deepti Sharma into Record Books
Deepti had already made history with the ball in 2016, when she became the youngest Indian, male or female, to take an ODI five-wicket haul. She achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in Ranchi and went on to take six wickets in the match, becoming only the second India woman to claim a six-wicket haul in the format. Her best ODI figures are 6 for 20, which came against Sri Lanka. She produced another six-wicket haul against West Indies in Vadodara in 2024. Her performances in the 2017 ODI World Cup were also important, with 216 runs and 12 wickets in the tournament.
Deepti Sharma’s Maiden World Cup
The 2017 World Cup gave Deepti another chance to show her ability on the biggest stage. She scored half-centuries against Sri Lanka and South Africa and took three wickets in the thrilling semi-final against Australia. India reached the final but lost to England by nine runs. Deepti continued to establish herself as a player who could contribute in more than one area. Her bowling gave India control in the middle overs, while her batting provided another option in the lower-middle order. That balance later became one of her biggest strengths.
Deepti made her T20I debut against Australia in Sydney on January 31, 2016, and later added Test cricket to her international career. She made her Test debut against England on June 16, 2021. In 2023, she produced a memorable performance against England in Mumbai, taking 9 for 39 in the match. That included a five-wicket haul, with her best Test innings figures being 5 for 7. Her career has therefore included important performances in all three formats. She has remained a constant in the Indian team despite the different demands of each format.
Deepti Sharma’s Journey in Franchise Cricket
Her success has also extended to franchise cricket. Deepti first played in an overseas league in 2019, when she represented Western Storm in the now-defunct Kia Super League and was part of their title-winning campaign. She later played in the Women’s Big Bash League and The Hundred, representing teams including Sydney Thunder and London Spirit. In the inaugural WPL auction in 2023, UP Warriorz bought her for INR 2.6 crore. The following year brought another major milestone when she became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in the WPL.
The 2024 WPL season was another strong one for Deepti. She took her historic hat-trick against Delhi Capitals on March 8 and was also UP Warriorz’s top scorer that season. Her performances earned her the Most Valuable Player award for the 2024 WPL season. The all-rounder continued to show why she was such an important part of the side. Her ability to contribute in both departments made her especially valuable in the competition. It was another season that added to her growing list of achievements.
World Cup Winner – Deepti Sharma
The finest chapter of Deepti’s career came during the 2025 ODI World Cup. She was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets in 9 matches. She became the first cricketer, male or female, to record the double of 200 runs and 20 wickets in a single World Cup edition. Her biggest contribution came in the final against South Africa in Mumbai. Batting at No. 5, Deepti made a run-a-ball 58 and then returned with the ball to take 5 for 39. Her all-round performance helped India win their first global title.
Deepti’s international figures show how much she has contributed with both bat and ball. In Tests, she has scored 402 runs in 7 matches at an average of 44.66, with five half-centuries and a highest score of 78. She has also taken 25 wickets at an average of 19.00, with best figures of 5 for 7. In ODIs, she has scored 2,771 runs in 124 matches at an average of 35.98, including one century and 18 half-centuries. Her highest score is 188, while she has taken 166 wickets at an average of 27.69.
Her T20I record adds another part to the picture. Deepti has played 149 matches and scored 1,270 runs at a strike rate of 107.26. She has two half-centuries, with a highest score of 64, while her 168 wickets have come at an average of 19.93. Her best T20I bowling figures are 5 for 10. In franchise cricket, she has scored 358 runs and taken 31 wickets in 26 Women’s 100 matches. In the WPL, she has 638 runs and 34 wickets in 33 matches, while in the WBBL she has 276 runs and 15 wickets in 20 matches.
Deepti has collected several major honours during her career. She was part of India’s 2022 Women’s Asia Cup-winning team and the gold medal-winning side at the 2022 Asian Games. She also featured in the 2017 ODI World Cup final before helping India win the 2025 ODI World Cup. In 2018, she received the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Domestic Senior Women’s Cricketer from the BCCI. Her performances across domestic cricket, international cricket and franchise competitions have made her one of India’s most trusted all-rounders.
As Deepti Sharma turns 29, her career already carries the marks of a player who has delivered in important matches. The 188 against Ireland, the 320-run partnership with Poonam Raut, her six-wicket hauls and her 2025 World Cup campaign are among the biggest moments of her journey. Her performance in the World Cup final gave India a historic first global title and added another special chapter to her career. From a young girl in Agra to an all-rounder trusted across formats, Deepti has built a career defined by consistency, hard work and big-match contributions.
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