Who Is Vaishnavi Sharma? Madhya Pradesh Spinner Earns India Call-Up After U-19 Heroics

Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma took a big step in her young career after making her India debut in the first T20I against Sri Lanka women on December 21 in Visakhapatnam.

The debut is part of India’s early build-up for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the team is looking to settle its spin options well in advance.

Vaishnavi is not new to big tournaments. She was a key part of India’s Under-19 side that won the inaugural Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, where she finished as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets.

Her rise has been steady and backed by strong domestic numbers. In the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, the left-armer picked up 21 wickets and caught the eye with her control and accuracy.

She carried that form into the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20, where she took 12 wickets in just five matches and topped the wicket charts in the tournament.

Born in Gwalior, Vaishnavi has already created history. She is the first cricketer from the Chambal region to represent India women at the senior international level.

Her junior performances also earned recognition when she won the Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy for Best Woman Cricketer in the 2022-23 junior domestic season.

Much of her growth has come at the Tansen Cricket Academy in Gwalior, where she is known for long and demanding practice routines that test both skill and fitness.

“Whenever she is in Gwalior, she comes to the academy where she puts in seven hours daily, three in the morning and four in the evening,” her coach had said earlier this year.

“I believe that she has worked hard and now she is the first from around here to play in the World Cup,” he added, speaking during the U-19 showpiece.

Vaishnavi has already shown promise at the senior level. In the ongoing Sri Lanka series, she has taken two wickets across the first two T20Is and kept a tight economy rate.