Shikha Pandey

Often called ‘Shikhipedia’ by her teammates, Shikha Pandey is an in-and-out cricket geek. Apart from being an international-level cricketer, Shikha Pandey is also an Indian Air Force officer, holding the rank of a Squadron Leader.

Shikha was picked up for playing for Goa at the age of 15, however, she made her debut after a couple of seasons. Her talent was visible from a very young age, but she decided to focus on her studies. She went on to complete her Electronics and Electrical Engineering in 2010 and joined the Indian Air Force in a year.

Consistent performances at the domestic level saw her getting picked for the Indian team. She made her debut in 2014 in all three formats, becoming only the second player from Goa to play for the country. She played a crucial role with the bat and the ball in a historic Test win for India against England in Wormsley.

With time, she became a regular member of the Indian side and was often credited as Jhulan Goswami’s bowling partner. She was an integral member of India’s campaigns at the 2017 ODI World Cup and T20 World Cup, where the team managed to make it to the final.

She was left out of the India squad for some time but made a resounding comeback in the early part of 2023 when she was called up for the T20 World Cup. However, gradually, she was overtaken by the upcoming young talents in the country.

Away from the international spotlight, Shikha Pandey built a strong and well-travelled franchise career, valued for her experience, control and ability to deliver in pressure situations. She featured prominently for Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League, adding balance to the attack with her disciplined new-ball spells and reliable death bowling. Beyond the WPL, Pandey also represented Trinbago Knight Riders, Brisbane Heat and Canterbury Magicians, adapting seamlessly to different conditions and competitions. That growing demand culminated ahead of the 2026 WPL season, when she became one of the most expensive buys at the auction, with UP Warriorz securing her services for INR 2.4 crore, underlining the premium placed on her experience and consistency.