The date of December 15, 2024, will live on in the mind of Nandini Kashyap forever, this was when Nandini was signed by the Delhi Capitals for INR 10 lakh in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction and later received a call-up to the senior India squad for India’s home T20I series against West Indies in Navi Mumbai.
Nandini’s friends called her up asking her to watch the mini auction. However, Nandini didn’t seem really interested because she wanted to sleep before joining the Indian squad.
“So, they suddenly turned on the TV at that time, and my name came up. So, there was a little hold in between – 10 seconds or whatever. But finally, DC made a bid. So, I was very happy that I would go to DC, because they played in the final in the last two years, and it’s a very good team.
“I knew there would be very good coordination, owing to so many good players there. So, I was very happy,” Nandini stated in an exclusive conversation with IANS.
With 579 runs at an average of 57.90 and a strike rate of 131.89, Nandini was at her best during this season’s Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. With an average of 83 and a strike rate of 137.19, Nandini was the top scorer in five games of the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy, helping Team E win the final in Ranchi, extending her purple patch.
As a part of the Indian squad in Navi Mumbai, Nandini fulfilled a childhood ambition that many Indians dream of singing the national anthem.
“It was a dream since childhood, and also from the time when I started playing the game. When finally, that thing happened, I was very happy. I was singing the national anthem with the whole team and there were goosebumps. It was a very different feeling.”
Nandini, who joined the Delhi Capitals during their pre-season camp in Pune, acknowledged that she was initially nervous as a WPL newcomer, but she quickly felt at ease with support and kindness of seasoned players like Jemimah, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, and her captain, Meg Lanning (whom she lovingly refers to as “Meg di”).
Nandini’s rise in cricket has been exceptionally rapid, especially considering that she only began playing five years ago. She grew up in the capital of Uttarakhand, Dehradun, enjoyed cricket but preferred playing badminton since her mother encouraged her to play the game alone rather than in a team. She quickly enrolled in the Khalsa Cricket Academy after her father recommended she give the game a try.
She is now coached by Ravi Negi at the Nimbus Cricket Academy whenever she’s home. “It has been great, and actually, whatever I am, it’s because of him. He has worked hard on me for the past one to two years. This is all because of him, and I am very happy that I am under his coaching because he is a very experienced and good coach.” remarked Nandini.
When she became the highest run scorer in the Uttarakhand Premier League and helped the Mussoorie Thunder’s win in September 2024, Nandini’s cricket career took a significant turn. She earned Player of the Tournament and Emerging Player after scoring 123 runs in three games. She had by then made up her mind to take home awards from each competition she participated in.
“I also wanted to have a trophy for the Uttarakhand team. Actually, this was my goal. But, step by step, I got everything. So, yes, the ultimate goal was to win trophies in whichever tournament I go to, and I will feel really good.”
Increased prominence for regional players led to her signing a WPL 2025 contract with the Delhi Capitals, along with fellow Uttarakhand players Raghvi Bist, Prema Rawat, and Ekta Bisht. Anagha Deshpande, the head coach of Uttarakhand, changed the team’s strategy, which is why Nandini attributes her success to her.
She however finds it difficult to transition to a middle-order position at Delhi Capitals, as Taniya Bhatia and Sarah Bryce compete for the wicketkeeper position. Nevertheless, she hopes to assist the Delhi Capitals in achieving their first WPL championship with her trophy-winning mentality.
“Winning a trophy for sure is something which brings me great joy in cricket, as this is always my ultimate goal. Whenever I perform for my team, if I win a trophy, my day will be good. I wish we win a trophy for DC finally,” she concluded.
(Quotes sourced from IANS)
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