Vaishnavi Sharma Overcomes Debut Nerves to Deliver Disciplined Spell for India
Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma shines with economical spell in India's win over Sri Lanka.
India’s promising young spinner Vaishnavi Sharma made a disciplined and composed debut for the senior national team in the first match against Sri Lanka on Sunday. At just 20 years old, she bowled four economical overs, conceding only 16 runs, and helped India secure a comfortable eight-wicket victory.
Despite not claiming a wicket, Vaishnavi impressed with her control and consistency, keeping Sri Lanka’s batters under check throughout her spell. She conceded no boundaries and demonstrated maturity beyond her years at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
Speaking after the match, Vaishnavi admitted to initial nerves before the national anthem but said her anxiety subsided once the game began. “I was nervous before the national anthem. After that, I calmed down. I am very happy that I was able to execute my plan. There are four more matches to go in the series,” she said.
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Vaishnavi earned her maiden international cap following a standout performance at the ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. She emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 17 wickets at an impressive average of 4.35, which cemented her place as a rising talent in Indian cricket.
With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup less than six months away, captain Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized that the series would provide opportunities to emerging players. Vaishnavi hopes to make the most of this chance and turn her long-held ambition of representing India into a lasting reality.
Reflecting on her journey, Vaishnavi said, “We have worked hard for this. Our dream is to represent India and contribute. I can’t say much about the future. Let’s leave it to God.” Her composed debut indicates she could play a pivotal role in India’s white-ball plans moving forward.
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