Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma is a titan of world cricket, widely regarded as one of the most intelligent and versatile all-rounders the game has ever seen. Born on August 24, 1997, in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, she is a master of situational play, combining crafty right-arm off-spin with high-pressure left-handed batting. Her 2025 season was the stuff of legends; she was the heartbeat of India’s maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph on home soil. In a historic individual campaign, she became the first cricketer in history—male or female—to record the double of 200 runs and 20 wickets in a single World Cup edition. Her tournament culminated in a majestic performance in the final against South Africa, where she scored a steady 58 before dismantling their chase with a match-winning 5/39, deservingly earning the Player of the Tournament award.

In the franchise arena, Deepti’s value reached an all-time high during the 2026 Women’s Premier League mega auction in late 2025. Following a record-breaking year where she also climbed to world No. 1 in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings, she became the subject of the most intense bidding war of the auction. After the Delhi Capitals pushed her price to a staggering ₹3.2 crore, the UP Warriorz exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card to bring their local star back to Lucknow. This deal made her the joint-second most expensive player in WPL history. For the Warriorz, Deepti is the tactical engine of the team, known for her ability to bowl at any stage of the innings and anchor the middle order. As she enters the 2026 season as a World Cup winner and the top-ranked T20I bowler, she remains the ultimate 'MVP' of Indian cricket.