# Nandani Sharma
**Nandani Sharma** (also spelled Nandni Sharma; born 2001 in [Chandigarh](https://www.edgepedia.org/chandigarh)) is an Indian cricketer who bowls right-arm fast-medium for [Delhi Capitals](https://www.edgepedia.org/delhi-capitals) in the Women's Premier League (WPL) and for Chandigarh in domestic cricket, and who made her T20 international debut for India in 2026.[1](https://www.ipl.com/cricket-player-matches/completed-all-series-0-nandni-sharma-51635)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001, Chandigarh, Punjab, India[2](https://epaper.thesouthindiatimes.com/media/2026-05/hyd-tsit-3rd-may-2026-pdf.pdf) |
| Role | Right-arm fast-medium bowler; right-handed batter[1](https://www.ipl.com/cricket-player-matches/completed-all-series-0-nandni-sharma-51635) • [3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642) |
| Teams | India Women, Delhi Capitals, Chandigarh Women, Punjab Women, North Zone, India A, India B[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642) |
| WPL 2026 | 17 wickets in 10 matches, joint-highest for the season; first player with a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick in the same game (5/33 vs Gujarat Giants)[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) |
| T20I debut | 28 May 2026 vs England at The Ambassador Cruise Line Ground, Chelmsford[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642) |
| T20I record | 14 matches, 17 wickets, average 17.18, economy 7.09, best 3/18 vs Thailand Women[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642) |
| Major squads | India's 15-member squad for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup; ACC Women's Asia Cup 2026; one-off Test at Lord's, July 2026[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) • [5](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/pacer-nandani-picked-for-asia-cup-squad/amp/) |
## Early life and domestic career
Sharma took up cricket as an eight-year-old in Chandigarh, following her elder brother Akash to training in Sector 26, and after a stint at the LIC Cricket Academy she progressed through the Punjab under-16 and under-19 teams and attended a U-19 National Cricket Academy camp as a 15-year-old in the 2017/18 season.[6](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/137299/nandni-sharma-and-the-making-of-a-pressure-bowler) She later trained under Sukhwinder Bawa, the former coach of [Yuvraj Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/yuvraj-singh), where she worked on yorkers, slower deliveries, and the outswinger, and developed steep bounce and speeds in excess of 110 kmph.[6](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/137299/nandni-sharma-and-the-making-of-a-pressure-bowler)
Her domestic career ran through Punjab's junior and senior teams before she captained the Chandigarh senior women's side in 2025, and she has also represented North Zone in zonal one-day and multi-day tournaments and played for India B.[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) • [6](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/137299/nandni-sharma-and-the-making-of-a-pressure-bowler) Performances in the senior women's inter-zonal tournament, the Women's T20 Challenger Trophy, and the senior women's One-Day Challenger Trophy brought her to the attention of national selectors.[5](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/pacer-nandani-picked-for-asia-cup-squad/amp/)
## Women's Premier League 2026
**Breakthrough with Delhi Capitals.** After being overlooked in initial franchise auctions and serving as a net bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the third WPL edition, Sharma was signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 million (₹20 lakh) ahead of the 2026 season, her place in the XI opening up when the Australian all-rounder Annabel Sutherland withdrew from the tournament.[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) • [7](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nandni-sharma-rise-india-t20-world-cup-squad-10668085/)
Facing the Gujarat Giants on January 11 in only her second game, she took 5/33 and thus achieved a feat no other WPL player had matched, combining a five-wicket haul with a hat-trick within a single match; Kanika Ahuja, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Renuka Singh Thakur were the victims of her hat-trick.[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) She was the second Indian to take a WPL hat-trick and the first uncapped player to take a five-for.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nandni-sharma-rise-india-t20-world-cup-squad-10668085/) By the end of the tournament she had taken 17 wickets in 10 matches, a tally matched only by Gujarat Giants' Sophie Devine, and was named WPL Emerging Player of the Season.[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) • [7](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nandni-sharma-rise-india-t20-world-cup-squad-10668085/) Delhi Capitals captain [Jemimah Rodrigues](https://www.edgepedia.org/jemimah-rodrigues) described her as the "pick of the season" and a "captain's delight" for her accuracy in executing plans.[6](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/137299/nandni-sharma-and-the-making-of-a-pressure-bowler)
## International career
Sharma was named in India's 15-member squad for the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup in [England and Wales](https://www.edgepedia.org/england-and-wales), her first senior national call-up, after rehabilitating from a hand webbing injury that had sidelined her during an India A tour earlier in the year.[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma) • [7](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nandni-sharma-rise-india-t20-world-cup-squad-10668085/) She made her T20I debut on 28 May 2026 against England at [Chelmsford](https://www.edgepedia.org/chelmsford), taking 3/34 in India's 38-run win.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642) • [8](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/1448901/nandni-sharma/all-matches/bowling)
Across the 2026 season she played 14 T20Is for [India](https://www.edgepedia.org/india), taking 17 wickets at an average of 17.18 and an economy rate of 7.09, with best figures of 3/18 against Thailand Women on 30 August 2026.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642) Her appearances included the T20 World Cup, the ACC Women's Asia Cup 2026 in the UAE, and the Asian Games Women's Cricket Competition 2026 in Japan.[8](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/1448901/nandni-sharma/all-matches/bowling) • [5](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/pacer-nandani-picked-for-asia-cup-squad/amp/) She was also named in India's squad for the one-off Test against England at Lord's scheduled for July 2026.[4](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma)
## Bowling style
Sharma is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who swings the new ball both ways, generates steep bounce, and relies on slower-ball variations and yorkers, with a reported top speed above 110 kmph.[6](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/137299/nandni-sharma-and-the-making-of-a-pressure-bowler) She has described the WPL as teaching her to perform under pressure and to bowl against experienced international batters, and she cites [Bhuvneshwar Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhuvneshwar-kumar) as a bowling influence.[7](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nandni-sharma-rise-india-t20-world-cup-squad-10668085/)
## References
1. [Nandani Sharma Match Schedule, IPL.com](https://www.ipl.com/cricket-player-matches/completed-all-series-0-nandni-sharma-51635)
2. [The South India Times e-paper, 3 May 2026](https://epaper.thesouthindiatimes.com/media/2026-05/hyd-tsit-3rd-may-2026-pdf.pdf)
3. [Nandani Sharma Career Stats, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/player-profile/nandani-sharma/75642)
4. [Nandani Sharma Player Profile, ICC](https://www.icc-cricket.com/rankings/75642/nandani-sharma)
5. [Pacer Nandani picked for Asia Cup squad, The Tribune](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/chandigarh/pacer-nandani-picked-for-asia-cup-squad/amp/)
6. [Nandni Sharma and the making of a pressure bowler, Cricbuzz](https://m.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/137299/nandni-sharma-and-the-making-of-a-pressure-bowler)
7. [A father's belief, a daughter's dream: Nandni Sharma's rise to India's T20 World Cup squad, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/nandni-sharma-rise-india-t20-world-cup-squad-10668085/)
8. [Nandani Sharma bowling records, Cricbuzz](https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/1448901/nandni-sharma/all-matches/bowling)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Cricket › Cricket people and teams › People › Domestic first-class players by team*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license