Centre: Anushka Sharma ( PC- Gujarat Giants official instagram account)
Right: Rahila Firdous (PC: Mumbai Indians instagram account)
Cricket is one such sport which is nothing short of a celebration in India where cricketers are wholeheartedly worshipped and honoured by fans, at every possible opportunity. In such a scenario, where big names usually dominate the spotlight, some uncapped young talents have also been able to garner significant attention. With their consistency, skill, and overall zeal, they have impressed a wider audience. The WPL has played a crucial role in giving them the adequate exposure that they needed, helping them get noticed and fall under the radar of selectors.
First and foremost, we must talk about Delhi Capital’s biggest find, Nandini Sharma. The 24-year-old pacer from Chandigarh, created history in the WPL by becoming the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick and record a five-wicket haul in the same match against Gujarat Giants. In just 6 matches, she has already picked up 13 wickets, at an average of 14.15 and an economy rate of 8.36, clearly reflecting the brilliance that she brings to the table. She was also handed over the ChatGpt match IQ award in the game vs RCB, for her tactical intelligence and presence of mind on the field. Known for her deceptive back-of-the-hand slower ball and lethal death bowling, Nandini was also in contention for the Purple Cap and held on to it for a significant amount of time in the early part of the season.
Next, we move on to someone who has proven to be one of Gujarat Giant’s best additions to the team — Anushka Sharma. She slammed 44 off 30 balls in her first game against UP Warriorz, and forged a 103-run partnership with skipper Ashleigh Gardner, showing her ability to handle elite spin. Even in the match against RCB, where the scoreboard read 5/3, she continued to stay calm in the crunch situation, batting with utmost confidence and taking the pressure off while scoring consecutive boundaries, despite just having come back from an injury. She has been constantly striking at the rate of 130.88 which is no small feat for an uncapped player, walking in to bat at No. 3. Additionally, her talent in fielding has also been recognizsd by her coach, Michael Kilnger, who has praised her fielding at point. Her save at the boundary in the match vs Delhi Capitals, to save the 6 from Jemimah Rodrigues, must be mentioned in this context.
Last but not the least, Mumbai India’s wicketkeeper-batter, Rahila Firdous has shown that impact is not just about volume of runs but the timing of her contributions. Her stumping of set batter, Lizelle Lee in the DC vs MI clash was cited as the turning point that allowed MI to crawl back into the game. Even on Monday, vs RCB, her impeccable catch behind the stumps to dismiss Georgia Voll, was extremely praiseworthy and spoke volumes for her reflexes. With Yastika Bhatia injured, and Uma Chhetri at times inconsistent with the bat, Rahila could emerge as a future prospect for the Indian team, serving as the back-up to another promising, international young talent, Richa Ghosh.
It is heartwarming to see that alongside prominent names like Nat Sciver Brunt, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur — these young uncapped players have also been consistently making an impact and grabbing eyeballs. They are slowly and steadily working their way up, and if they continue with the same level of consistency and dedication, it could end up bolstering India’s bench strength in the long run. More importantly, performances like these reinforce the value of sustained opportunities for domestic talents, something that the WPL has been able to address effectively.
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