WPL has changed me a lot as a cricketer: Nandni Sharma
New Delhi, June 24
India fast bowler Nandni Sharma has credited the Women's Premier League with transforming her understanding of the game, while also recalling the childhood moment that inspired her to become a pace bowler.
Speaking about her cricketing journey, Nandni explained how exposure to elite players reshaped her mindset and how a chance observation at her academy sparked a passion that continues to drive her career.
Reflecting on the impact of the WPL, Nandni said the tournament broadened her perspective far beyond simply taking wickets.
"The WPL has changed me a lot as a cricketer. I have learned so much, from sharing the dressing room with big players to watching how they prepare, how they handle pressure, and how they approach different situations. I now see cricket in a different way. Earlier, I used to think that if I just bowl, I will get wickets. But now I understand that there is so much more to the game. There is planning, reading the batter, adapting to conditions, and communicating with teammates. I have learned a lot, and all of it is helping me in my journey," Nandni told JioStar.
The young pacer also looked back on the early days of her cricketing life, revealing that her first experiences in the sport were far from straightforward. Accompanying her brother to the academy, she initially found herself on the sidelines, unable to convince coaches to let her bowl.
"When I started playing cricket, my brother used to play, so I began by watching him. I would go to the academy with him, but I wasn't given the chance to bowl. The coaches wouldn't hand the ball to me at that time. I felt left out. So, I left cricket in between. I kept complaining at home that they don't give me the chance to bowl," she added.
Despite stepping away from the game for a period, Nandni's desire to return never faded. Once she resumed training, a senior cricketer unknowingly altered the course of her career.
"Then, after some time, I felt like playing again. I wanted to give it another try. After that, I saw a senior player running in and bowling fast. I didn't even know at that time that it was called pace bowling. I just watched her and thought, I also want to bowl like that," Nandni stated.
That single moment, she said, became the defining point in her development as a fast bowler.
"That moment changed everything. Earlier, I didn't even get a ball in my hand. But from that day, I started fast bowling. That is one of my most important memories. That is where my journey as a fast bowler truly began," she said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a great story about perseverance and finding your calling. It's wonderful that the WPL is providing such opportunities for growth. Probably the best thing that happened to women's cricket in India.
What a journey! From being ignored at the academy to becoming a fast bowler - this is what determination looks like. The WPL has given our girls a platform to learn from the best. But also, the coaches who initially didn't give her a chance should reflect on that. How many potential stars might we have lost because of such biases? 🤔
This Nandni Sharma seems to have great potential. The WPL experience is invaluable for our domestic players. But I hope the BCCI also focuses on grassroots coaching - imagine how many talented girls might be sitting on the sidelines because coaches don't give them a chance? The system needs to improve. Still, kudos to her for not giving up! 👏
Love how she saw someone bowling fast and just decided that's what she wanted to do. Sometimes the simplest inspirations lead to the most amazing journeys. The WPL is doing wonders for women's cricket.
It's great that the WPL is transforming players' understanding of the game. But let's not forget that this should have been happening through our domestic structure itself. We need better coaching at the local level - the fact that a young girl had to leave because she wasn't allowed to bowl shows there's a lot of work to be done. Still, happy for Nandni's success! 🏏
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