Deepti Sharma: Why Deepti Sharma Is the Most Important Player on Team India

Deepti Sharma: In the electrifying world of Indian women’s cricket, filled with charismatic superstars and explosive talents, there are the architects of victory—the players who form the very backbone of the team. Deepti Sharma is, without a doubt, one of the chief architects. A masterful left-handed batter with the grit to build an innings and a clever right-arm off-spinner with a golden arm, she is the silent engine that powers Team India. Her journey from a record-shattering teenager to a seasoned veteran has been a masterclass in consistency, making her an indispensable force in all three formats of the game.

Deepti’s true value lies in her rare dual-threat capability. She is the player the captain turns to when a partnership needs breaking or when the run-rate needs a steady, calculated push. Her historic achievement of becoming the first Indian woman to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in T20 Internationals isn’t just a statistic; it’s a testament to her elite all-round skill and her unwavering importance to India’s success story.

A Prodigy Unleashed: Exploding onto the World Stage

Deepti Sharma didn’t just knock on the doors of international cricket; she blasted them off their hinges. Making her ODI debut against South Africa in 2014 at the tender age of 17, she immediately showcased her disciplined bowling with an impressive spell of 2/35. But it was in 2017 that the world truly witnessed the dawn of a new star. In a phenomenal display of power and endurance against Ireland, a 19-year-old Deepti smashed a monumental 188 runs, an innings that, at the time, was the second-highest individual score in the history of women’s ODIs.

That day, she didn’t just etch her name into the history books; alongside Punam Raut, she forged a world-record 320-run partnership—the first-ever 300-plus run stand in women’s ODI cricket. Even before this batting spectacle, she had already proven her prowess with the ball. In 2016, she delivered a match-winning spell of 6/20 against Sri Lanka, becoming the youngest Indian cricketer, male or female, to claim a five-wicket haul in ODIs. This was the mark of a true prodigy.

Mastery Across Formats: India’s All-Condition Champion

Deepti’s genius lies in her incredible adaptability. After making her T20I debut against Australia in 2016, she quickly earned a reputation as one of the most economical and reliable spinners in the game, capable of bowling in the powerplay, middle overs, or at the death.

When she earned her Test cap in 2021 against England, she proved she belonged in the most demanding format, contributing a crucial 83 runs across two innings and picking up three vital wickets. This all-round dominance makes her one of the few players globally who can be trusted to deliver a game-changing performance with either bat or ball, in any situation, on any surface. Her status as the first Indian woman to achieve the coveted 1,000 run/100 wicket double in T20Is underlines a decade of relentless consistency and evolution.

A Global Force: Dominating Leagues from the WPL to the WBBL

Deepti Sharma’s talent isn’t just confined to the international stage; she is a highly sought-after player in franchise cricket around the world. After a successful domestic career playing for Bengal and her home state of Uttar Pradesh, she expanded her horizons by playing in the Kia Super League, The Hundred (UK), and the Women’s Big Bash League (Australia), gaining invaluable experience and global recognition.

In the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in 2023, the UP Warriorz recognized her immense value, securing her for a staggering ₹2.6 crore. A year later, she created history in the tournament, etching her name in the annals of the WPL by becoming the first Indian player to take a hat-trick.

In a recent performance in September 2025 against the formidable Australians in New Chandigarh, Deepti once again showcased her match-winning abilities, contributing a vital 40 runs with the bat and taking 2/24 with the ball, proving that she remains a crucial asset, especially in high-pressure games.

From a prodigious teenager rewriting record books to one of the most respected and trusted all-rounders in world cricket, Deepti Sharma’s journey is a powerful story of hard work, quiet determination, and unmatched consistency. Whether she’s turning the game with the ball, steadying the ship with the bat, or being a livewire in the field, Deepti Sharma is, and will remain, a key pillar of the Indian women’s cricket team.