As Sunday turned into Monday, fireworks erupted nationwide, from Andhra’s Erramalle to Shimla’s Parsa, celebrating India’s World Cup victory. The moment Nadine de Klerk was caught off Deepti Sharma’s bowling by Harmanpreet Kaur, emotions ran high as Deepti, the star performer, was embraced by her joyous teammates.
This triumph was particularly meaningful for the 28-year-old spinner, driven by a deep desire for redemption. Deepti became the first cricketer in World Cup history to achieve both a half-century (scoring 58 runs) and take five wickets in a single match. Her 85 minutes at the crease at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai were marked by incredible composure and purpose, each of her 57 deliveries speaking volumes about her determination.
Deepti knows well the fine margins that separate victory from defeat. Just a few years prior, on March 27, 2022, during the previous World Cup in Christchurch, she was defending a mere six runs in the final over against South Africa. After taking four wickets and conceding only three runs, Mignon du Preez appeared to be caught out by Harmanpreet. However, a crucial no-ball from Deepti meant Mignon returned to the crease, ultimately finishing the match on the last delivery. This wasn’t her only brush with World Cup heartbreak; in the 2017 final, India suffered a devastating nine-run loss to England, with Deepti being among the last batters dismissed.
An embedded video highlights the financial rewards for India’s women cricketers after their World Cup win.
But this year, Deepti triumphantly corrected those past setbacks, showcasing incredible self-belief and unwavering perseverance – qualities she’s demonstrated since picking up a bat at just nine years old. While her brother Sumit Sharma would sneak off to play cricket in their hometown of Agra, Deepti, the youngest of five, would join him. Initially, her distinctive hairdo allowed her to blend in, often mistaken for a boy, drawing little attention as the only girl on the local grounds.
However, once she began actively playing, the taunts and criticism started. With a father working for the Railways and a mother as a teacher, expectations were that Deepti would pursue more conventional paths, not cricket. Yet, no amount of negativity could break Deepti’s spirit or deter her dream. Crucially, her parents and brothers provided immense support; her brother Sumit even left his corporate job to help Deepti achieve her ambition of playing for India.
Legend has it that former BCCI women’s selection committee chief Hemalatha first noticed a teenage Deepti at Agra’s Ekalavya Sports Stadium, simply for her powerful throw from the stands. Though she had to wait until deemed ‘old enough’ to join the Uttar Pradesh senior team, Deepti diligently honed her skills, transitioning from medium-pace to off-spin and refining her batting. She dedicated four years to the Uttar Pradesh U-19 team before making her India ‘A’ debut against South Africa ‘A’ at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in 2014, even before representing her state’s senior squad.
Within a year, she was back at the Bengaluru venue, making her senior India debut against New Zealand in 2015. Just months later, her talent took her overseas for the first time, to Sydney. Since then, Deepti has delivered some of Indian women’s cricket’s most stellar performances, including an incredible 188 runs off 160 balls against Ireland in 2017, achieved during a record-breaking 320-run opening partnership with Punam Raut. Her five wickets for just seven runs against England in the 2023 Test match further highlight her immense all-round capability.
Long before the Women’s Premier League (WPL) became a reality, Deepti had already proven her mettle in global franchise cricket, playing in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League and England’s The Hundred. She was instrumental in London Spirit’s historic maiden Hundred title win last year, even foregoing a lucrative £36,000 contract to focus entirely on preparing for the home World Cup.
Her extensive international experience and remarkable ability to adapt and reinvent her game have been key to Deepti’s sustained success. Reflecting on the team’s victory, Deepti shared, ‘It took us a very long time to win the World Cup, but what is destined for you happens at its appointed time, and I believe this victory was meant to be ours, here in India.’