Deepti Sharma — the jack of all trades seeking to master the game

With an eagerness to improve and the skillset to dominate the world, the all-rounder’s journey across formats brings great hope to her UP Warriorz mentor Lisa Sthalekar

t’s not easy being captain. More so in a tournament final. You are tasked with motivating 11 nervous (in varying degrees) players while also reassuring the nagging doubts in your head as you set about seeking glory.

Deepti Sharma’s heart rate must have been in its upper limits on Thursday morning as she stepped out with teammate Uma Chetry with 153 runs left for her side – East Zone – to chase vs South Zone in the Inter Zonal redball tournament.

Deepti has been a source of calm for East in the three games played during this tournament. What she missed out on during the Women’s Premier League – dominating bowling charts – she more than made up for here with 27 scalps to her name, imperiously ahead of the rest of the field. She has been crucial with the bat too, helping bring stability to an inexperienced batting order that is still learning the demands of long format cricket. Her side eventually finished with a memorable onewicket win.

“I texted Deepti before her final to wish her luck saying ‘I think she’s enjoying the format,’ Lisa Sthalekar, Deepti’s team mentor at WPL outfit UP Warriorz tells Sportstar. “Deepti replied saying, “I think it’s my favourite format.” Yeah, she is pretty good at it to be honest.”

IIdentity crisis

The 26yearold barely betrays emotions. Extremes may be curdling her nerves within but there’s no sign of it on the exterior. And so, a slight identity crisis that she’s been unravelling in the pursuit of a solution slips under the radar with the discourse often stuck at adaptability and form. Change, to an observer, may be easy and even expected, but the one going through it will tell you of the seismic shifts it entails. Deepti faced a predicament of the sort which ate into her first season in the WPL. She was still trying to figure her essence as an allrounder, particularly in the T20 game, when all her skills were pointing to finesse in the longer formats of the game. This often comes down to a matter of confidence and mindset. Deepti was no different.

“I remember speaking to her during the first edition and telling her that she should be dominating this competition. This is a competition built for all rounders and out of the big names in Indian women’s cricket, she is THE allrounder, so she should dominate,” Lisa remembers.

“The changes she made were evident. In one of the earlier games this season,