Nandni Sharma,a young fast bowler from Chandigarh,has got her maiden call-up to Indian women’s cricket team for upcoming T20I series against England and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup,and for her it is clearly much bigger than just squad selection.
She called it a ‘dream come true,’ and you can understand why . For any player,wearing India jersey after years of grinding in domestic cricket and WPL pressure is not small thing ah.
What really hit me was how she said reality of selection properly sank in during recent tour match against ECB Development Women’s XI . Sometimes announcement happens,but brain takes time only to accept that yes,this is actually happening .
Nandni’s Women’s Premier League performance clearly pushed her into spotlight . She finished as joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets,and that kind of tournament can change career direction very fast,especially for fast bowlers who are always under pressure to prove consistency.
Few things standing out clearly in her journey:
- Nandni Sharma earned maiden India call-up for T20I series against England and ICC Women’s T20 World Cup .
- She was joint-highest wicket-taker in Women’s Premier League with 17 wickets .
- Her WPL run included hat-trick and gave her confidence for this next stage .
And tbh,the emotional part of this story is what makes it feel real . Nandni said,“I called my family first. They asked me why I was crying,and I told them I had been named in the World Cup squad.” That one line tells you how much this meant to her and her family .
She also spoke about wearing India jersey for first time,and that moment sounds properly overwhelming . “Standing in front of mirror, I was overwhelmed by the realization of my hard work paying off,” she shared. Anyone who has chased one dream for years will understand that mirror moment.
The selection itself came as surprise to her . “When they announced the squad, I wasn’t even looking. I received a call from a friend,and I had to double-check to believe it,” she explained. Then she video called her family,and tears of happiness followed . Her father’s words also stayed with her: “You have worked hard,and now you’ve achieved the fruit of it.”
But this journey was not just straight happy story . Nandni said,“A lot has changed in the last 6-7 months.” She also spoke about learning through challenges,including injury,and added,“These months have been positive and transformative. I am grateful to those who believed in me,” which shows how much these few months have shaped her mentally also .
She credited Women’s Premier League for changing things in big way . “The WPL has greatly impacted my life,and I have seen many positive changes,” she stated . She also said,“I want to continue this journey as long as I can bowl well. It's a wonderful feeling,” and now real question is how she carries this confidence when India pressure,World Cup pressure and expectations all come together…
