When Nandni Sharma first walked into a cricket academy with her brother, she wasn’t even allowed to bowl.
Today, the young pacer is part of India’s squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The journey from feeling overlooked to representing India on the biggest stage has been anything but straightforward, but Sharma believes one moment changed everything.
“I felt left out. So, I left cricket in between,” Sharma told JioStar. “I kept complaining at home that they don’t give me the chance to bowl.”
When she returned, she watched a senior cricketer charging in and bowling with pace. At the time, Sharma did not even know the term “pace bowling”, but she instantly knew what she wanted to do.
“I just watched her and thought, I also want to bowl like that. That moment changed everything,” she said.
Learning the hard way
Unlike many young cricketers, Sharma’s development came in an environment where she was constantly pushed out of her comfort zone.
The coaches immediately placed her alongside boys, making her the only girl in training sessions.
“The moment I started bowling, the coaches pushed me to play with the boys. I was the only girl among them,” Sharma recalled.
“But that never stopped me. I played with them every single day.”
Facing harder-hitting batters and quicker bowlers accelerated her development.
“They bowled fast, they hit the ball hard, and I had to raise my game to keep up,” she said.
Why she almost became a spinner
Like many fast bowlers, Sharma has had moments where the physical demands of pace bowling made her consider a different path.
She admitted the thought of switching to spin crossed her mind more than once.
“Fast bowling is very difficult. Injuries happen often. You must stay extra fit and take more care of your body,” Sharma said.
“I used to think, should I change, should I try spin bowling?”
However, consistent success with the ball ensured she stayed committed to pace.
“Wickets kept coming, and that gave me confidence.”
The WPL effect on Nandni Sharma
Sharma’s rise accelerated after earning an opportunity in the TATA Women’s Premier League with Delhi Capitals.
The tournament exposed her to some of the biggest names in world cricket and transformed her understanding of the game.
“The WPL has changed me a lot as a cricketer,” she said.
Earlier, Sharma viewed bowling through a simple lens: bowl well and wickets would come.
Now, she sees the game differently.
“There is planning, reading the batter, adapting to conditions, and communicating with teammates,” Sharma explained. “I have learned a lot, and all of it is helping me in my journey.”
Inspired by India’s swing kings
For Sharma, her bowling idols reveal exactly the type of cricketer she hopes to become.
Growing up, she closely followed former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan.
“I grew up watching Irfan Pathan sir bowl. The way he swung the ball and took wickets, that really made me want to do the same,” she said.
Today, she studies two of India’s modern pace-bowling masters.
“Currently, I look up to Bhuvneshwar bhaiya and Bumrah paaji. The way they bowl with control and variations is something I try to learn from.”
In women’s cricket, South African star Marizanne Kapp remains her biggest inspiration.
“She bowls with pace, hits the right areas, and always gives her best. Watching her inspires me to keep pushing myself.”
Nandni Sharma is now living the dream
For Sharma, the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup is another milestone in a journey that began with frustration and determination.
The young pacer once struggled to convince coaches to hand her a cricket ball. Now she finds herself sharing dressing rooms with some of the biggest names in the sport and representing India on the global stage.
The dream that started while watching her brother train has already taken her further than she once imagined. Yet, judging by her influences and work ethic, Nandni Sharma believes she is only getting started.
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