In the electrifying opener of the maiden double-header on Saturday in Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, 22-year-old Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Anushka Sharma stole the spotlight with a blistering 44 off 30 balls on debut for Gujarat Giants. Batting at number three with the Giants at 41/1 in the fifth over, she smashed seven boundaries to anchor a record 207/4, the franchise’s highest WPL total, in their 20 overs at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.
Facing UP Warriorz, now led by newly appointed skipper Meg Lanning (who crossed from Delhi Capitals for ₹1.90 crore in the November 27, 2025, mega auction), under Ashleigh Gardner’s captaincy, Anushka proved she’s the fresh Indian firepower Gujarat has craved.
Meg Lanning (the former Delhi Capitals skipper across the first three seasons) won the toss and bowled first, setting up a high-stakes clash with just one debutant, Anushka, compared to three in the season opener on January 9. Her poise under pressure echoed her domestic exploits, where she emerged as the second-highest run-scorer in the Madhya Pradesh Women’s League for Bundelkhand Bulls.
Amassing 93 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 104.49 and an average of 31, the middle-order batter and handy off spinner joins the list of Madhya Pradesh’s rising stars like Pooja Vastrakar, Kranti Gaud, Sanskriti Gupta, and Vaishnavi Sharma.
Anushka’s big-hitting flair shone brightest in the BCCI Inter-zonal tournament, where her 155 runs across five innings ranked her third overall, game-changing cameos that turned matches on their head. Glimpses of this power surfaced in the MP Women’s League too, with audacious sixes that hinted at her enforcer potential.
On debut, she walked in to steady the ship, then unleashed boundaries with ruthless precision, her 30-ball stay blending calculated aggression and maturity. As Ashleigh Gardner (65 off 41), Georgia Wareham (27* off 10), and Bharti Fulmali (14 off 7) added vital cameos, Anushka’s knock set the tone for the Giants’ imposing total.
For Gujarat Giants, perennially seeking Indian middle-order muscle, Anushka arrives as a perfect fit. Her dual skills, power-hitting and off spin, could redefine their balance, especially with Gardner’s leadership fostering bold tactics. In a league spotlighting youth, this debut catapults her into WPL conversations, marking Madhya Pradesh’s latest export ready to enforce on the biggest stage.
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