BCCI's international Cricketer of the Year, Deepti Sharma is an inspiration for millions with her passion and devotion to her sport. Despite facing a rough start, her love for cricket and hard work have made her one of the best in her field.
Hailing from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Deepti Sharma is a brilliant all-rounder Indian cricketer ranked 3rd among the top all-rounders in the ICC Cricket Rankings. Not only that, she is the only Indian to be picked for the ICC’s T20I team of the year. Deepti was also titled BCCI’s International Cricketer of the Year for 2022-23 for the second time.
Let’s take a look at Sharma’s journey from being a young cricket enthusiast to becoming a successful cricketer worldwide and earning the ‘Sharma ji ki beti’ moniker.
A passionate beginningSharma had a passion for cricket from a very young age. She started tagging with her brother to his cricket games when she was only 9 years old. Her natural talent was first discovered by former cricketer and India's national women's team selector, Hemlata Kala. Deepti threw a ball and knocked over the stumps from the sideline, resulting in impressing Hemlata and catching her attention.
Rise in international cricketSharma began her international cricket journey in 2014 and made her ODI debut against South Africa. At just a young age of 17 years old, Deepti exhibited her true potential and her competitive strength. Since then she has been given record-breaking performances and victories for her team.
Making historyDeepti proved her all-rounder versatility when she became the first Indian player in the Women's Premier League (WPL) and second overall to score a hat-trick. Her fearless and strong skills gave her team, UP Warriorz a historical win.
Initial strugglesShe had a bit of a rocky start in the beginning as she was despite her all-rounder abilities having trouble making it into the state teams. Later she got guidance and mentorship from former Indian cricketer and selector, Rita Dey who helped her create her own path and find excellence.
Inspiring the futureDeepti has destroyed all the barriers and gender stereotypes and is an empowering figure for everyone, not just women, but any passionate individual who aspires to achieve their dreams. She the real-life example of a hard-working and dedicated sportsperson and the true embodiment of the 'Sharma ji ki beti' meme with her lists of achievements.
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