Nandini Sharma is a right-arm fast bowler and right-hand batter and had her debut in Women Premier League (WPL) in 2026 with Delhi Capitals. When she first played against the Mumbai Indians, she bowled three overs and got 2 wickets with 26 runs, including Gunalan Kamalini and Nicola Carey, which was the most important bowling contribution to her team in that match.
Her 2/26 bowling scores at an economy rate of 8.66 were one of the limited bright spots of the Delhi Capitals during the match, and this indicates her future as a pace prospect in the WPL.
This article will discuss her early life, home career, WPL career, play style, strength, and future.
Early Life and Background
Nandini Sharma was born on 20 September 2001, Chandigarh, India. Since her childhood, Nandini had a talent for cricket in Chandigarh (where women were increasingly being provided with infrastructure to play cricket).
She moved to age-group tournaments and local cricket teams, where she acquired her bowling skills and speed. Her consistency in hitting the good length areas and extracting bounces was unique to her as compared to her colleagues in domestic fixtures.
Her frequent performances ultimately led to her being noticed by the scouts and selectors of WPL, which saw her get selected to play for the Delhi Capitals.
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Nandini Sharma Stats: Domestic Career
The domestic record of Nandini is one that portrays the increasing influence of the player as a dependable pace bowler. Even though she did not feature in previous versions of WPL, she created an impression on the Indian domestic T20 circuit. Based on career statistics:
T20 Career (Domestic)
- Matches: 19
- Runs Scored: 116
- Batting Average: 8.29
- Strike Rate: 100.87
- Wickets: 27
- Economy Rate: 5.01
Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, 2025
- 34 runs in 3 innings, 6 wickets in 5 innings for Chandigarh
Her bowling statistics indicate a bowler who is comfortable with containing runs as well as taking wickets, and this is a necessary element in the shortest format. Prior to her WPL debut, Nandini, who came into her WPL debut, also represented Chandigarh and North Zone Women in several domestic competitions before, sharpening her bowling skills against a wide range of opponents and conditions.
WPL 2026 Auction and Delhi Capitals Signing
In November 2025, Nandini realized a turning point in the WPL mega auction. DC grabbed her for ₹20 lakh ahead of the rest of the uncapped domestic players joining the bidding pool, realizing her potential as well as the balance she would contribute to their bowling line. The investment signified that the franchise regarded her as a star in the future instead of just a filler of the squad.
Playing in DC also means Nandini will be with an international team that will include players such as Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, and Indian stars such as Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues. Such a wide range of international talent will be priceless in developing her game on a higher level.
WPL Debut: DC vs MI (January 10, 2026)
On January 10, 2026, Nandini made her official debut in WPL, with Delhi Capitals facing defending champions Mumbai Indians Women at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Delhi captain Jemimah Rodrigues won the toss and chose to bowl, and added Nandini to the bowling unit to give pace and aggression to the unit.
In her debut spell:
- Overs Bowled: 3
- Runs Conceded: 26
- Wickets Taken: 2, notably dismissing Gunalan Kamalini and Nicola Carey
- Economy: 8.66 in tough T20 conditions
Her two wickets were a massive hit in the line-up of the Mumbai batting, and a shining light in the general bowling by DC. To a debutant, getting wickets against well-experienced international batters not only gives confidence but also indicates to the world that she is ready to handle bigger tasks.
Strengths and Opportunities
Nandini is a right-arm fast medium bowler, and she brings pace, bounce and consistency to her team.
Strengths:
- Pace and Bounce – She is able to bowl at a good pace and create a bounce, which does not allow both top-order and lower-order batters to play freely.
- Disciplined Line and Length – She is in control of what she delivers, as this supports the runs and pressure on batters.
- Fitness and Agility – Her physical fitness enables her to bowl long spells without running out of pace or hitting the mark, and she is an effective bowler in both powerplay and death overs.
- Mental Toughness – She remains composed under pressure and is able to perform her skills during high-pressure situations such as WPL matches.
Opportunities:
While Nandini’s WPL debut is an important milestone, she faces both challenges and opportunities for growth.
- High-Level Competition – Competing against world class batters provides her with the opportunity to challenge and train her skills.
- Consistency – A good performance in each game might make her stand out to the national selectors and earn her a regular place in the elite level of the game.
- All-Round Skills – Her batting should be improved so that she becomes a more useful all-rounder and plays a bigger part in the team.
The Future Looks Fast and Bright
The appearance of Nandini in the WPL 2026 in the team of Delhi Capitals is a significant milestone in her career and the development of domestic talent in fast bowling in India. In her first appearance against the Mumbai Indians, she bowled three overs in which she claimed 2 wickets, showing pace and bounce which challenged the best batters. Her performance proved her willingness to play at a higher level and provided depth to the bowling team in Delhi.
Her experience of WPL after the Chandigarh domestic circuit defines the growing possibilities of women cricketers in India. She has been ranked as one of the rising stars of the WPL, alongside such players as Shree Charani, also representing the Delhi Capitals.
Regular league performances might also win her a place in the franchise cricket and get the notice of national selectors. Nandini Sharma stats are promising and could emerge as a major fast bowling prospect in the future.
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FAQs
1. Who is Nandini Sharma and which team does she play for in the WPL 2026?
Nandini is a Chandigarh-based right arm medium bowler and she debuted in WPL in 2026 with Delhi Capitals.
2. When and where did Nandini make her WPL debut?
She made her WPL debut on January 10, 2026, against Mumbai Indians Women at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
3. How old is Nandini?
She is 24 years old, having been born in September 2001.
4. What is unique about her bowling style compared to many other women cricketers?
Nandini can generate genuine pace and bounce, a quality that is less common in women’s domestic bowling and adds value to her team’s attack.
5. How did Delhi Capitals perform in the match where Nandini debuted?
Delhi Capitals were bowled out for 145 and lost the match by 50 runs to Mumbai Indians in the WPL 2026 game.
