Deepti Sharma Biography: Picture a nine-year-old girl at the boundary rope of a cricket ground in Agra, Uttar Pradesh.
She is not a player she is just a younger sister tagging along, watching her brother practice. A stray ball rolls to her feet.
She picks it up, takes aim, and fires a direct hit on the stumps from 50 metres away. A former India selector watching from the sidelines turns to her brother and says: “This girl must play.”
That single, unrehearsed moment triggered a journey no one in that neighbourhood could have predicted.
It launched a quiet, determined girl from a middle-class Agra family into international cricket’s brightest spotlight and eventually to the podium of India’s first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in 2025.
The Deepti Sharma biography is not just a cricket story. It is a story about a family’s sacrifice, a society’s scepticism, and one woman’s refusal to let either of those things define her ceiling.
Personal Profile
| Full Name | Deepti Bhagwan Sharma |
| Date of Birth | 24 August 1997 |
| Age | 28 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Playing Role | All-Rounder — Left-hand bat, Right-arm off-break |
| WPL Team | UP Warriorz (Captain, 2025–present) |
| Int’l Debut | ODI vs South Africa, November 2014 |
| Other Leagues | London Spirit (The Hundred), Sydney Thunder (WBBL) |
| Occupation | Cricketer & DSP, Uttar Pradesh Police |
| Net Worth (2026) | Approx. ₹10–12 crore (~$1.2M–$1.4M) |
Early Life and Background
Deepti Sharma was born on 24 August 1997, in Agra — the city of the Taj Mahal — into a middle-class family that valued education and hard work above all else.
Her father, Bhagwan Sharma, was a retired Indian Railways employee, while her mother, Sushilaa Sharma, served as a school principal.
Growing up in a traditional neighbourhood, Deepti’s early life was shaped by both ambition and societal pressure.
When she began showing interest in cricket, many neighbours mocked the family, insisting that cricket was a “man’s game.” But her parents refused to let convention define their daughter’s destiny.
Her elder brother, Sumit Sharma — himself a former fast bowler for Uttar Pradesh — became her first and most devoted mentor.
In a remarkable act of sacrifice, Sumit gave up his own job to focus entirely on training Deepti and driving her to practice sessions every single day. That sibling bond is a cornerstone of the Deepti Sharma early life story.
Introduction to Cricket
Deepti’s formal entry into cricket was entirely accidental. At age nine, she tagged along with Sumit to a training session at the Ekalavya Sports Stadium in Agra.
While watching from the boundary, a ball rolled her way. She picked it up and launched a throw that rattled the stumps from 50 metres with breathtaking accuracy.
That moment was witnessed by Hemlata Kala, a former India player and national selector, who immediately recognised the raw talent on display. Her encouragement prompted Deepti to begin serious training almost overnight.
What followed was an unconventional education in cricket. To build mental toughness and sharpen her reflexes, Deepti trained almost exclusively with boys during her formative years.
She also began as a medium-pace bowler in the mould of her brother but coaches soon advised her to switch to off-spin, noting that her height and natural ball release were far better suited to slow bowling.
That tactical pivot would eventually make her one of the most effective spinners in international women’s cricket.
Domestic Career
Deepti’s domestic rise was anything but smooth. She was rejected twice at Uttar Pradesh U-19 trials for being “too young.” When she finally made the team in 2010 at age 13, she announced herself emphatically scoring 65 runs and taking 3 wickets on debut.
Two years later, a magnificent 114 against Vidarbha in Kanpur booked her spot in the UP senior team.
Seeking further growth, Deepti moved to represent Bengal in domestic cricket a crucial career decision. Under the mentorship of legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami, she developed the tactical discipline and consistency that define her game today.
During the 2017–18 domestic season, she averaged over 100 with the bat, scoring 312 runs alongside nine wickets a staggering all-round contribution.
Her domestic excellence earned her the prestigious Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Senior Women’s Domestic Cricketer in 2018, cementing her reputation as one of Indian cricket’s most reliable match-winners.
International Career
Deepti Sharma made her ODI debut against South Africa in November 2014, aged just 17. She wasted no time proving her worth on the international stage.
In 2017, she produced one of the most breathtaking innings in women’s ODI history a 188-run masterclass that formed part of a world-record 320-run opening partnership with Punam Raut.
The Deepti Sharma stats from that partnership still astonish: a stand that remains the highest in women’s ODI cricket.
But the defining chapter of her international career was written in 2025. Deepti was named Player of the Tournament at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup a tournament India won for the very first time.
In the final against South Africa at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, she scored 58 off 58 balls and took 5 wickets for 39 runs.
Her dismissal of South African captain Laura Wolvaardt who had scored a century was described by commentators and analysts as the single moment that turned the match and secured the trophy.
She finished that World Cup with 215 runs and 22 wickets, becoming the first cricketer in history male or female to achieve the double of 200-plus runs and 20-plus wickets in a single World Cup edition.
She is also only the second player ever to claim a five-wicket haul in a Women’s World Cup final.
Her T20I legacy is equally extraordinary. By December 2025, she had surpassed Australia’s Megan Schutt to become the highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history, with 152 wickets.
She also became the first cricketer male or female to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in T20Is, reaching the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling World No. 1 ranking in early 2026.
Career Statistics at a Glance
BATTING
Format Matches Innings Runs Highest Average 50s 100s
Tests 14 20 265 36 17.66 0 0
ODIs 98 85 1,842 188 28.33 10 1
T20Is 142 120 1,063 57* 18.29 3 0
BOWLING
Format Matches Wickets Best Average Economy SR 5W
Tests 14 34 5/7 24.17 2.91 49.7 2
ODIs 98 126 6/20 24.85 4.31 34.5 5
T20Is 142 152 5/15 16.89 6.14 16.4 2
Franchise Career – WPL and Global Leagues
The Deepti Sharma WPL team journey has been one of the most celebrated in the Women’s Premier League’s short but explosive history.
She was snapped up by UP Warriorz in the inaugural 2023 WPL auction for ₹2.6 crore making her one of the most expensive Indian players at the time.
In WPL 2024, she was simply unstoppable. She scored 295 runs at an average of 98.33 and took 10 wickets, claiming the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. She also became the first Indian player to take a hat-trick in the WPL, achieving the feat against Delhi Capitals.
In the 2026 Mega Auction, UP Warriorz re-signed her for ₹3.2 crore via the Right to Match (RTM) card, making her the joint-most expensive player in the league.
In 2025, she was appointed Captain of UP Warriorz the first player to lead the franchise at their home stadium in Lucknow.
Her franchise career extends far beyond India.
She has represented Western Storm in the Kia Super League (KSL), London Spirit in The Hundred, and Sydney Thunder in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) gaining experience in conditions across three continents
Career Highlights and Records
World-record 320-run ODI opening partnership with Punam Raut (2017), contributing 188 runs
First cricketer ever (male or female) to score 200+ runs and take 20+ wickets in a single World Cup edition (2025)
First cricketer to achieve the double of 1,000 runs and 150 wickets in Women’s T20Is
Highest wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history — 152 wickets (December 2025)
ICC Women’s T20I Bowling World No. 1 ranking (early 2026)
Youngest Indian woman to take an ODI five-wicket haul: 6/20 vs Sri Lanka, 2016
Best bowling analysis by an Indian woman in Tests: 5/7 First Indian player to take a hat-trick in the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2024)
Player of the Tournament – 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup
Awards and Achievements
Arjuna Award (2020) – India’s second-highest sporting honour
BCCI Polly Umrigar Award – Best International Cricketer (2022–23 season)
ICC Women’s Player of the Month – December 2023
Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy – Best Senior Women’s Domestic Cricketer (2018)
WPL Most Valuable Player (MVP) – 2024
2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Player of the Tournament
Appointed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) by the Uttar Pradesh Government (2024)
₹1.5 crore cash award from the UP Government following the 2025 World Cup victory
Net Worth and Endorsements
Deepti Sharma’s net worth as of early 2026 is estimated at ₹10–12 crore (approximately $1.2M–$1.4M), a figure that has climbed sharply following India’s World Cup triumph and her record WPL contract.
Her income streams are impressively diversified. Her WPL deal alone brings in ₹3.2 crore per season.
She holds a BCCI Grade A central contract worth ₹50 lakh annually, with additional match fees of ₹15 lakh per Test, ₹6 lakh per ODI, and ₹3 lakh per T20I.
As a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the Uttar Pradesh Police, she also draws a government salary of approximately ₹56,100 per month.
Following India’s World Cup win, Deepti’s brand value is estimated to have surged by 25–35%. Her current endorsement portfolio includes a long-term partnership with Puma (sportswear), a brand ambassador role for Thums Up (beverages), and a deal with BatBall11, the popular fantasy sports platform.
Lesser-Known Facts
Natural right-hander who bats left-handed: Deepti picked up a left-handed stance to mimic her elder brother during backyard sessions and never switched back — making her a naturally right-handed person who bats with her left hand
• The 50-metre throw: The legendary direct hit that got her scouted was measured at approximately 50 metres. Most nine-year-olds struggle to throw half that distance with accuracy
• The Mankad moment: Her run-out of England’s Charlie Dean at Lord’s in 2022 ignited a global rule debate that led the ICC to formally reclassify the ‘Mankad’ dismissal from ‘Unfair Play’ to ‘Run Out’ a rule change partly attributed to her action
• Ice Queen at Lord’s: In The Hundred 2024, she hit a match-winning six at Lord’s for London Spirit — the same ground where she had faced intense global scrutiny just two years earlier
• Academic discipline: Despite her packed cricket schedule, she completed her graduation from Agra College — encouraged by her mother, who as a school principal ensured Deepti never sacrificed education for sport
• Switched from pace to spin: She originally trained as a medium-pacer like her brother before coaches advised her to switch to off-spin a decision that made her a world-class bowler
A 50-metre throw on a quiet afternoon in Agra. A school principal’s insistence on homework alongside net sessions. A brother who gave up his own dreams to fuel hers. And one night in 2025 when India lifted the World Cup for the very first time.
The Deepti Sharma biography is, at its heart, a story about what India’s daughters can achieve when a family believes, a community eventually follows, and a girl simply refuses to stop throwing. She is not just a cricketer. She is a blueprint.
Written By – Namita Deora
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