Nandini Sharma’s day in the WPL didn’t quite get off to the best of starts. Introduced into the attack in the third over, the young pacer from Chandigarh was immediately put on the back foot as Sophie Devine cashed in on some loose deliveries and a spate of fielding lapses by the Delhi Capitals.
Two early misfields led to boundaries, followed by a towering six down the ground. Even the partially timed pull that should have led to a wicket ended in aggravation as there was confusion and a fumble in the deep to allow an extra run.
The over scored 16 runs and completely shifted the momentum in favor of the Giants. However, Nandini Sharma showed a rather different attitude, despite the surroundings, and remained unaffected by this poor start.
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A Calm Mindset Amid Fielding Errors
Nandini had just returned for her second stint, Giants had moved past 120, Devine was about to reach her hundred, and there was still life left in the innings. The Delhi capitals were hemorrhaging, but the young pacer was displaying mental acumen.
Later, Nandini reflected on her spell and revealed that she deliberately did not focus on the flaws behind her opponents. This proved to be the turning point of the entire game.
The Spell That Changed the Game
Nandini Sharma, switching her tact, began to utilize short balls and clever slower ones. The effect was immediate as Sophie Devine, in a pull shot, hit the ball wrongly and was caught at short fine leg, starting a dramatic collapse.
What followed was a masterclass in pace bowling under pressure:
Kashvee Gautam got caught at long-on
Kanika Ahuja was deceived by an off-cutter and stumped
Rajeshwari Gayakwad & Renuka Singh got dismissed in the final over
Playing just her second match in the WPL series, Nandini collected an incredible five-wicket haul and achieved a hat trick in just the fourth instance in WPL History.
Creating History in the WPL
Her bowling performance was to restrict the Giants to 209 runs only, which was further admitted by the opposition captain to be short of at least 15 runs. The Delhi Capitals were in the hunt until the last ball when they fell short by just four runs, thanks to Nandini’s heroic performance.
From Domestic Consistency to WPL Spotlight
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Nandini’s success has been based on consistency. Not long after a domestic season in which she took 13 wickets in Chandigarh and India A matches with an economical delivery rate of 5.90, she was noticed by scouts.
In each domestic season, Nandini Sharma has maintained an economy of less than six runs per over, which is a rare quality in an Indian fast bowler. Because of this, she was picked in the Delhi Capitals’ squad as their solitary Indian pacer in the mega auction.
Increased Responsibility in a Lean Pace Attack
The Delhi Capitals entered the upcoming season with a greatly weakened pace attack. They had only three pace bowlers remaining in their camp in the form of Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, and Nandini Sharma, given the unavailability of Annabel Sutherland.
Realizing her potential, the DC bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad has been working with her extensively at the pre-season camp in Goa on developing variations and awareness in her bowling. It was now clear that she was no longer an ‘also-bowl’, but a key part of the DC bowling attack.
Praise From the Leadership Group
For Nandini, perhaps, even a defeat was balm to soothe the savage breast as her performance received all-round kudos. Team captain Jemimah Rodrigues highlighted that she was a “captain’s delight,” drawing focus on her accuracy, fearlessness to take responsibility, and more.
Head coach Jonathan Batty also expressed that Nandini Sharma had been on the franchise’s radar for a while but added that it was her attitude and the way she executed things in training which sealed her place in the XI.
A Rare Indian Fast-Bowling Prospect
A land of batting and spin in the realm of cricket, Nandini Sharma marks a difference. She bowls consistently above 110 kmph, and very few Indian pacing bowlers are as quick as Nandini.
Her performance is in line with BCCI’s efforts to produce fast bowlers under initiatives like Speed Queen, which makes her one of the prominent contenders for greater honors.
The Simple Mantra Behind Her Success
When asked what advice she would give aspiring fast bowlers, Nandini’s response was refreshingly simple:
“Never give up. There will be injuries, bad days, and moments when you want to quit. You have to fight through all of it and keep coming back.”
Complete List of Hat-Tricks in Women’s Premier League
Name Opposition Figures
| Issy Wong (MI) UP Warriorz 4/15
| Deepti Sharma (UPW) Delhi Capitals 4/19
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