{"id":"f-80ae245e0c-a32bb654-5787-59b8-a9a4-75d7f53af779","title":"Who Is Anushka Sharma? Gujarat Giants Star Smashes 30-Ball 44 On WPL Debut","description":"Anushka Sharma, who was signed by Gujarat Giants for ₹45 lakh at WPL 2026, smashed a 30-ball 44 on her WPL debut.","timestamp":1768053600,"category":"sports","headline":"Who Is Anushka Sharma? Gujarat Giants Star Smashes 30-Ball 44 On WPL Debut","modifiedHeadline":"New star! Anushka Sharma shines on WPL debut","subCategories":["scid_185ed133"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"6ff0e53c-03a9-4fac-a199-00040694f01a","bundleTitle":"Indian Cricket","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"483","fcSummary":"Anushka Sharma, the young batter, made a smashing WPL debut for Gujarat Giants, scoring 44 off 30 balls. Her impressive knock, featuring seven fours, helped build a 103-run partnership. Sharma's domestic performance and calm temperament made her a valuable pick.","summary":"Gujarat Giants' Anushka Sharma dazzles on WPL debut! Acquired for ₹45 lakh, she smashed a thrilling 30-ball 44, igniting excitement.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/news/IN/en/news18/f-80ae245e0c-a32bb654-5787-59b8-a9a4-75d7f53af779","sourceUrl":"https://www.news18.com/cricket/who-is-anushka-sharma-gujarat-giants-star-who-outshined-ashleigh-gardner-on-debut-with-ws-ln-9822151.html","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/EeJLttJyEjU0.webp","content":"

Anushka Sharma made a name for herself as she smashed a 30-ball 44 on her Women’s Premier League (WPL) debut.

Anushka smashed seven fours and shared a 103-run stand from 63 deliveries with Ashleigh Gardner

\n\n

in the second game of WPL 2026 between Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

\n
Classical stuff! \uD83D\uDE0D
\n
Gujarat Giants’ young batter Anushka Sharma is showcasing her talent with fluent strokeplay on debut! \uD83D\uDC4F\uD83C\uDFFB#TATAWPL, #GGvUPW \uD83D\uDC49 LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/wB52zoL2TW pic.twitter.com/W9MY1SrWVp
\n
\n
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 10, 2026
\n

\n\n

WPL 2026: GG vs UPW – Live Score

\n
Dream Debut Delight. \uD83D\uDCAB
\n
We witnessed the beginning of something very special today. \uD83E\uDD0C#GujaratGiants #BringItOn #Adani #GameOnGujaratStrong #TATAWPL #UPWvGGW pic.twitter.com/6UUO0HdiUv
\n
\n
— Gujarat Giants (@Giant_Cricket) January 10, 2026
\n

\n\n

At the innings break, Anushka Sharma said: “To be honest I was a little nervous, but as I played 2-3 balls it went away. It was a great outing, I had great company as well, it was crucial to build a partnership at that time, me and Ash (Gardner) were talking about building a partnership and that went well for our team. It is more about mindset, how you read situations and react according to that, domestic season obviously helped a lot for me, the preparation also was on point as we have a great staff with us, they helped me so much with the areas where I can execute my boundaries and sixes. It is a very good total on this wicket and we have a great bowling side.”

\n\n

Who Is Anushka Sharma?

Eyebrows were raised when the Gujarat Giants added the young Indian Anushka Brijmohan Sharma to their roster at the WPL 2026 Mega Auction for ₹45 lakh.

The pick immediately drew attention, not just because she shares her name with a famous Bollywood star, but more importantly due to her steady rise in domestic cricket.

Representing Madhya Pradesh, Sharma has built a reputation through consistent performances, which helped push her value up during the auction. Multiple franchises were understood to be tracking her development closely, viewing her as a player with the potential to grow into a reliable middle-order option who can also chip in with the ball. Gujarat Giants eventually moved decisively, fitting her into a squad that is clearly being shaped with an eye on the future rather than just immediate results.

\n\n

Sharma’s journey through Indian domestic cricket has been extensive for someone still only 22. Born on April 5, 2003, she has already featured for several teams, including Madhya Pradesh Women, India C Women, India B Women U-19, Central Zone Women, India E Women, and Bundelkhand Bulls Women. Coaches and support staff who have worked with her often point to her calm temperament, noting that she reads match situations well and rarely looks overawed, even in high-pressure scenarios. This maturity has been a key factor behind her steady progression through different levels of the game.

\n\n

Anushka Sharma Record

Her numbers across formats underline why franchises see long-term value in her. In one-day cricket, Sharma boasts an impressive average of 63, strikes boundaries at regular intervals, and also contributes effectively with the ball, picking up wickets roughly every 27 deliveries. In the T20 format, her returns are equally encouraging. In the Women’s Domestic T20 competition, she averages 21.8 runs per innings and takes wickets every 18 balls, highlighting her impact in fast-paced games.

For the Gujarat Giants, the signing represents a calculated investment in emerging Indian talent. If nurtured well, Anushka Sharma could develop into a key all-rounder capable of shaping matches with both bat and ball in the seasons to come.

\n","readDurationInMinutes":"6","author":{"name":"News18","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/png/93a0a932-2fe3-40ed-bfdb-4582706f8183.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[],"pointerSummary":["Anushka Sharma debuted in WPL 2026 with a 30-ball 44 for Gujarat Giants.","Sharma shared a 103-run stand with Gardner in GG's WPL match against UP Warriorz.","GG acquired Sharma for ₹45 lakh, recognizing her potential as a key all-rounder."],"tags":["AnushkaSharma","GujaratGiants","WPL2026","WomensPremierLeague","Cricket","AshleighGardner","DYPatilSportsAcademy","NaviMumbai","TataWPL","GGvUPW","UPWarriorz","MadhyaPradesh","IndianCricket","WomensCricket","CricketDebut","AllRounder","DomesticCricket","WPLMegaAuction"],"consent":true,"redirectionEnabled":false}

Who Is Anushka Sharma? Gujarat Giants Star Smashes 30-Ball 44 On WPL Debut

SUMMARY