Vaishnavi Sharma made her India debut in the first T20I versus Sri Lanka at Visakhapatnam on December 21, but her first real statement in national colours came on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram. Two wickets for 24 runs in a match that saw 412 runs scored across 40 overs. On a placid surface and with a wet ball in hand, the 20-year-old left-arm spinner from Gwalior quietly carved a niche for herself.
Making an impact in her debut series was perhaps written in the stars for the daughter of an astrologer.
In a match where the more celebrated Sree Charani struggled to find her rhythm, conceding 1 for 46 in four overs, Vaishnavi, playing her maiden international series, delivered her best performance so far. Her economical bowling and five wickets in the series has seen her emerge as a potential future star post the women team’s ODI World Cup triumph last month.
For her father, Dr Narendra Sharma, also a PhD in psychology, watching from home in Gwalior, his daughter’s journey to the Indian team seems predestined.
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When Vaishnavi was born, Sharma studied her horoscope closely. What he saw then, he says, shaped her career path.
“When Vaishnavi was born, I made her horoscope. In her horoscope, there were strong indications for sports and also for becoming a doctor,” he says. “Had she chosen medicine, the whole city would have known her. But had she chosen sports, the whole world would know her,” Sharma told The Indian Express.
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Relatives and neighbours made a beeline for the Sharma household to watch Vaishnavi play for India in the four T20 Internationals, two in Visakhapatnam and three in Thiruvananthapuram.
“Neighbours and relatives were around, the house was full. Everyone was happy,” Sharma said.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was eager for Vaishnavi to succeed.
“We were all waiting for that (Vaishnavi’s) maiden wicket. Even though in the last game there were a few missed chances, today she bowled a very crucial over and picked up two wickets,” Harmanpreet Kaur said this after the win in the second match in Visakhapatnam.
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After her horoscope showed the way, Sharma decided cricket was the sport for Vaishnavi and her older brother Ashendra.
“So when we decided to put her into sports, we chose cricket,” Sharma adds. “From the age of four, her mother, her brother, and I started coaching her ourselves. I used to teach my son so that my daughter would feel motivated,” he says.
Vaishnavi Sharma made India debut during T20I series vs Sri Lanka. (PHOTO: CREIMAS FOR BCCI)
When the family lived in Gwalior’s Sindhi Colony, Sharma took her to nearby grounds daily. That approach continued even when formal training began. Vaishnavi joined the Tansen Cricket Academy in 2021–22, a decision her father says was taken to provide structure and regular access to facilities.
Lovekesh Chaudhary, the coach at the academy, remembers seeing Vaishnavi when she was seven or eight years old, when her father first brought her to him. The early impression remains vivid.
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“She was very focussed, even as a child,” Chaudhary tells The Indian Express. “That was the first thing that stood out.”
Ask him what defines Vaishnavi as a bowler today, and he points to accuracy and control. “Her biggest strength is her accuracy. During our three-hour practice sessions, she can consistently bowl on the same pitch. Control is her strongest skill at the moment. She practices for six to seven hours every day and bowls at least 30 overs daily,” Chaudhary says.
Part of that focus, both father and coach believe, came from playing boys’ cricket from a young age. Sharma says he took his daughter everywhere to play against boys – in Gwalior and outside, including Kurukshetra, Delhi and Kota.
Her role models – Radha Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja – reflect that outlook: control over flair, utility over spectacle.
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Before the India call-up, however, there was a setback. Despite finishing the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy as the leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets in 11 matches, Vaishnavi went unsold at the 2026 Women’s Premier League auction.
“There was no disappointment,” her father says. “We told her this was not a big issue. If a player performs well, she will be selected for India. That is more important. She agreed with us. As an astrologer, I had already made a bhavishyavani that she would play for India in 2025, so we remained focussed on the work.” On December 21, nearly a month after the auction, that prediction came true.
At home, little has changed. The routines remain. Away from cricket, Vaishnavi paints, sings and listens to Hindi music. Her father hopes one thing never shifts. “She has worked very hard for cricket,” he says. “She should always stay focussed.”
