Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 One of the most spectacular surges has been witnessed in the history of cricket. On a balmy Sunday night at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, an uncapped Indian fast bowler turned the league upside down. Nandini SharmaPlaying only his second professional match in the tournament, he cast a spell for the ages, registering his name in the record books by claiming a historic hat-trick and five-wicket haul. gujarat giants.
While Gujarat Giants got the lead in the high-scoring thriller Delhi Capitals By a paltry margin of 4 runs, the spotlight was on the 24-year-old fast bowler who single-handedly demolished a strong batting line-up in a single over of madness.
Who is Nandini Sharma?
Nandini is a right-arm fast-medium bowler who has quickly become the new sensation for Delhi Capitals. Born on 20 September 2001 in Chandigarh, she represents the growing depth of talent in Indian domestic cricket. Standing as a symbol of tenacity, she is known for her ability to generate significant bounce and extract speed even on uneven tracks.
Before her explosive arrival on the WPL stage, Nandini was a consistent performer in the domestic circuit. His ability to bowl at different stages of the game made him a favorite of scouts. Today, she is recognized as the first Delhi Capitals bowler to take a hat-trick in WPL history and the first player to take a five-wicket haul and a hat-trick in the same match in the league.
Early life and path to WPL
Nandini’s journey started from the cricket loving streets of Chandigarh. Growing up in a sports-loving home, she started playing in a local club at the age of 10. His discipline and natural athletic ability soon saw him rise through the ranks to represent the United States. Chandigarh Women and finally northern region Team in inter-regional competitions.
His path was not without obstacles. Interestingly, she previously appeared for the trials for Gujarat Giants during WPL Season 2 but failed to secure the contract. Instead of getting discouraged, she returned to home turf, captaining the senior Chandigarh team in 2025 and making a strong impression at the NCA Emerging Camp in Bengaluru. This flexibility ultimately came in handy when she caught the attention of the Delhi Capitals think tank.
WPL 2026 auction signings and onfield-performances
The 2026 WPL auction proved to be a turning point for the Chandigarh fast bowler. Delhi Capitals bought Nandini for her base price of Rs 20 lakh. While he was one of the low-cost acquisitions in a team studded with stars such as veterans marijane kappHis value on the field has already far exceeded his price tag.
Nandini made her debut in the season opener Mumbai IndiansWhere he showed a glimpse of his ability by getting out Nicola Carey And Yes KamaliniFinished with figures of 2/26. However, it was his second encounter against Gujarat Giants that cemented his status as a superstar. In just two matches, she has already topped the wicket count, currently competing for the purple cap He got 7 wickets in his bag.
Historic hat-trick against Gujarat Giants
The defining moment of the WPL 2026 season so far happened in the 20th over of Gujarat Giants’ innings. The giants were moving towards a huge total, driven by Sophie DevineExplosive 95 runs. Nandini, who had earlier taken the important wicket of Divine, was handed the final over by the captain. jemima rodrigues.
What happened next was pure cricket theatre. After a few quiet balls, Nandini performed a masterclass in death bowling:
- Third ball: he rejected Kashvi Gautam To begin the fall.
- Fourth ball: A clever slow ball cheated Kanika AhujaWho was stumped in an attempt to hit a big hit.
- Fifth ball (hat-trick): she cleaned Rajeshwari Gaikwad With a delivery that smashed the middle stump.
- Sixth ball: For good measure, he threw in Renuka Singh Thakur LBW, completing a rare sequence of “four wickets in five balls”.
She finished with breathtaking figures of 5/33, making her only the fourth bowler in WPL history to take a hat-trick, joining elite company. Issie Wong, Deepti SharmaAnd grace harris.
See also: Nandini Sharma takes a sensational hat-trick in WPL 2026
This article was first published here WomenCricket.comA Cricket Times Company.
