Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma is the heartbeat of India’s middle order and one of the finest all-rounders in world cricket. A left-handed batter known for her calmness under pressure and an off-spinner who thrives in crunch situations, she has become the kind of player captains can rely on in any format. Whether it’s breaking a stubborn partnership, building an innings brick by brick, or holding her nerve in tense moments, Deepti’s value lies in her consistency and composure.

Deepti Sharma’s cricket story began in her home state of Uttar Pradesh, where she first turned heads in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons. Her all-round talent soon earned an invitation to Bengal, where she became a linchpin from 2017 onwards. In the 2017–18 senior one-day season, she dominated the run charts for Bengal, scoring 312 runs at a staggering average of 104, while also taking nine wickets. She followed that with even more brilliance in 2018–19, notching 487 runs (including an unbeaten 106 top score) and claiming 22 wickets, underlining her dominance with both bat and ball. Early in 2024, Deepti made the decision to return to her roots, switching back to represent Uttar Pradesh.

Deepti burst onto the international scene in November 2014 with her ODI debut against South Africa. Since then, she has become one of India’s most dependable all-rounders. In 2016, she delivered a youthful masterclass - picking up six wickets for 20 runs in an ODI against Sri Lanka, becoming the youngest Indian (across genders) to achieve a six-wicket haul. One of her standout batting moments came in 2017, when she posted 188 in a world-record 320-run opening stand with Poonam Raut against Ireland - a partnership that broke records in both women’s and men’s ODIs. She was also part of the Indian team in the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup. They finished as runners-up, with Deepti scoring 216 runs and picking up 12 wickets. Since then, she has been part of every major ICC event, and also the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Deepti’s Test debut came in June 2021 during India’s England tour. She has continued her dual-threat contributions through 2025 - in India’s Tri-Nation ODI series in Colombo, she stood firm with a crucial half-century to help India reach the final. On English soil, Deepti played a calm, unbeaten 62 in a tense ODI chase to help seal a historic win for India, earning Player of the Match. Her performance in the T20I and ODI formats has been consistently reliable, and she remains a pivotal middle-order batter and frontline spinner for her country.

Franchise cricket has seen Deepti take on leadership and match-winning responsibilities with ease. She joined UP Warriorz in the inaugural WPL auction in 2023, fetching a significant ₹2.6 crore and quickly becoming one of the team’s pillars. In WPL 2024, she delivered on both fronts — smashing 295 runs and claiming 10 wickets, including a record-setting hat-trick, earning her the Most Valuable Player award. With Alyssa Healy ruled out in 2025, Deepti stepped up as captain of UP Warriorz, tackling the role with enthusiasm and maturity. Beyond the WPL, Deepti has also competed in overseas franchise circuits, featuring for Western Storm, London Spirit (The Hundred), and Sydney Thunder. Her global exposure has enriched her game and contributed to her growth as a leading all-rounder on the world stage.

Most recently, Deepti was named Player of the Tournament in the 2025 ODI World Cup, in which she helped India win their maiden title on home soild and she will once again be one of the big names to watch out in the 2026 season of the WPL, where she will be playing under the leadership of Meg Lanning for the UP Warriorz.