Since her international debut in 2014, Deepti Sharma has emerged as a cornerstone of the Indian women’s cricket team. As she completes a decade in international cricket, all eyes will be on her in the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, where she is expected to be a game-changer for India.
Whether opening the batting, stabilizing the middle order, or accelerating in the lower order, Deepti’s versatility with the bat is matched only by her bowling prowess. She seamlessly transitions from opening the bowling to dominating the middle overs and containing runs in the death overs. Her fielding, sharp catching, and quickness in the outfield further enhance her all-around capabilities.
During an appearance on Star Sports’ show ‘Follow the Blues,’ Veda Krishnamurthy remarked, “She (Deepti Sharma) definitely will be (an X factor) because her bowling will be very crucial, and if there is any turn on offer, I think she will be more deadly in those conditions as well. It’s been over a decade now, I think 2014 is when she debuted, and she has grown every year as a cricketer. She has come to a point where she has been a very crucial part of the Indian team, regardless of what the format is.”
Recently, Deepti played a pivotal role in helping the London Spirit clinch their first-ever title at The Hundred. She amassed 212 runs from six innings, averaging an incredible 212, with a top score of 46* and also took 8 wickets.
Commenting on this, Krishnamurthy added, “Her performance, even with the bat, if she is coming in at No. 7 or No. 8, she can get those crucial runs. So Deepti being in good form, she has been in good form with all these franchise leagues that she has played, she just needs to carry forward that form and do well for India.”
In T20I cricket, Deepti has proven to be one of India’s most consistent bowlers, having taken 131 wickets in 114 innings at an outstanding economy rate of 5.97. With the bat, she has contributed 1,020 runs in 75 innings at a strike rate of 104.29. Her role as a key spinner will be essential in UAE’s spin-friendly conditions, where she will lead India’s spin-heavy attack.
Veda Krishnamurthy further noted, “Of course, to get adjusted to the conditions is a major thing when you are playing in the UAE. Looking at the squad, because it was in Bangladesh, there are not many changes they have made. It’s a very spin-heavy team and we rely a lot on spinners as well because Deepti Sharma has been a very key bowler for us.”
While India’s spin department appears well-rounded, there are some concerns regarding the pace attack, primarily due to an overreliance on Renuka Singh Thakur. In 46 innings, Renuka has claimed 50 wickets at an average of 22.02 and an economy rate of 6.40.
Veda Krishnamurthy highlighted this, stating, “With the faster bowlers, especially Pooja Vastrakar coming in with that semi-new ball and hitting that hard length, it’s kind of worked well for India. It is about how they start. So, they need Renuka to fire regardless of how the conditions are and if they do that, I think India will be very dominant in this World Cup.”
After painful exits in the 2018, 2020, and 2023 editions of the World Cup, India is more determined than ever to claim the ultimate prize. The team is gearing up for a fierce contest, placed in Group A alongside formidable opponents like Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. India’s campaign begins on October 4th against New Zealand, followed by matches against Pakistan on October 6th, Sri Lanka on October 9th, and Australia on October 13th.
India’s World Cup Squad:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajana Sajeevan
Travelling Reserves: Uma Chetry (wk), Tanuja Kanwer, Saima Thakor
Non-Travelling Reserves: Raghvi Bist, Priya Mishra