Chandigarh girl Nandni gets maiden call for T20 World Cup, England tour
Chandigarh’s medium pacer Nandni Sharma has received her maiden India call-up after a stunning performance in the recent Women’s Premier League (WPL). Numbed and emotional on hearing the news, she abruptly stopped the car in the middle of the road, leading to a minor traffic jam.
The Chandigarh uncapped cricketer has been picked by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in the 15-player squad for the upcoming one Test match against England, followed by the Women’s T20 World Cup, starting on June 12.
“I have put in a lot of struggle, and waited long for this moment. I am blessed to have such people around me, who encourage me to do well. I have lived for cricket and being alive to see this becoming true is unbelievable,” said Nandni.
She further added, “I remember a senior bowler of a team who became my inspiration. I just wanted to bowl like her, and I ended up falling in love with the sport. My parents are very proud of me as I didn’t have any backup plan...though I wanted to become an astronaut,” laughed Nandni. Shy by nature, she is supported by former Chandigarh crickter Asmita Kataria.
Nandni barged into the national scenario after claiming 17 wickets in 10 matches she played for Delhi Capitals. She was also part of the India squad that played in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars Tournament in Bangkok earlier in February this year.
Interestingly, 24-year-old Nandni got her maiden call owing to unavailability of another Chandigarh girl Kashvee Gautam and Mohali girl Amanjot Kaur, who was part of the Indian women’s historic ICC World Cup winning squad last year.
“We had replaced Amanjot with Kashvee, who is also injured. We have brought in Nandni to replace her. Amanjot is someone who strengthens all three departments in the team and is difficult to replace. Still, we have high hopes from the team. In case of Kashvee, there is some problem with her right knee and she will have to undergo surgery,” said chairperson of selectors Amita Sharma at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
Nandni has been part of the BCCI-organised tournaments at the U-19, U-23 and senior levels for both Punjab and Chandigarh. She has also played in the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Tournaments, Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy and Senior Women’s One-Day Challenger Trophy.
It was in January this year, when Nandni claimed a five-wicket haul, including the first hat-trick of the WPL season, for Delhi Capitals’ against Gujarat Giants. With the passage of time, Nandni continued to showcase her talent.
India will open their campaign in the T20 World Cup with a game against Pakistan on June 14 in Birmingham. The final is scheduled for July 5 at the Lord’s. India will play England in T20Is and T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Harmanpreet Kaur, while Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy. The Indian team is pooled with Pakistan, Netherlands, South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia in the league stage of the T20 World Cup.
“Nandni has earned this national selection through her hard work, discipline and consistent performances. The UTCA is extremely proud of her achievement, and we are confident she will make the country proud on the world stage,” said UTCA Chandigarh president Saransh Tandon.
