WPL ignored, India picked: Vaishnavi Sharma restores faith in grassroots

Shreyasi

Vaishnavi Sharma [Source: X/ICC]Vaishnavi Sharma [Source: X/ICC]

They say sport is a great leveller. It demands dedication and resilience and then rewards in the most unexpected ways. For Vaishnavi Sharma, November 27, 2025, was one of those days.

The year 2025 had already soared to historic heights for Indian women’s cricket. Indian women's cricket team defended the Under-19 World Cup, and fans knew that the victory was not just about talent; it was about the gritty spirit of players like Vaishnavi Sharma.

2025: A year of consistency for Vaishnavi Sharma

Vaishnavi Sharma showcased her remarkable talent throughout the Under-19 World Cup at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a series of exceptional performances. She began the tournament with an outstanding spell, taking 5 wickets for just 5 runs in four overs against the hosts, including a hat-trick.

She went on to claim 3-wicket hauls against Bangladesh, Scotland, and England in the semi-final. In the final, she took 2 wickets with left-arm orthodox spin against South Africa, helping India clinch the title. Eventually, Vaishnavi ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an astonishing average of 4.35 runs.

The Under-19 World Cup wasn’t a fluke or an isolated burst of brilliance for Vaishnavi Sharma. Her gradual growth through the age-group cricket at the domestic level helped her perform at the highest level with utmost brilliance.

Consistent domestic dominance

The overnight fame, stories of her playing cricket since the age of five, her historic debut in the Under-19 World Cup for India, nothing could impact the determination of the 20-year-old. She remained unshaken with unwavering focus and kept grinding.

After the triumphant campaign, she returned home among celebrations and immediately started playing domestic cricket. For Madhya Pradesh, she picked up 21 wickets in 11 matches to finish as the highest wicket-taker in the Senior Women’s T20 tournament.

She followed it up with 12 wickets for the Central Zone in five Inter Zonal matches and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker. Vaishnavi also played the Under-23 T20 Trophy Elite with moderate success as she picked up 2 wickets in five matches.

Ignored in WPL auction: A shocker to many

After being a star in the Under-19 World Cup and delivering consistent performance at the domestic level, the expectations were high around Vaishnavi in the Women’s Premier League auction. She was expected to be picked up by one of the five WPL franchises.

However, despite a base price of 10 lakh INR, no franchises showed interest in the young left-arm spinner. Despite her rapid rise, she went unsold at the auction. This looked like another bizarre decision by the franchises, as even prominent stars like Alyssa Healy, Alana King, and Heather Knight also had the same fate.

It was shocking to many as the youngster started the year on a high and continued to contribute consistently whenever she got opportunities. The WPL auction took place while the Under-23 tournament was still in progress. Vaishnavi was not at her best in the tournament.

Chances are that her lack of form during that period could trigger the franchise's decision not to opt for her in the auction. But it still looked like a myopic view by the franchises after the kind of consistency Vaishnavi showed throughout the year.

Domestic dominance remains the key

Fortunately, the national selectors had different perspectives. They picked her in the national squad for the upcoming 5-match T20 series against Sri Lanka alongside another debutant, G Kamalini.

However, Kamalini was retained by her franchise, the Mumbai Indians, ahead of the auction. Vaishnavi Sharma, on the other hand, had only her performances in various competitions at both international and domestic levels to offer, proving her mettle.

The selection of Vaishnavi Sharma in the national team restored faith in domestic cricket for many newcomers. The domestic performance is often prioritized for the national call-up, and consistency remains the key.

Being unsold in the WPL auction after delivering throughout the year could be shattering for any youngster. But the selection of Vaishnavi proves that stellar performances in domestic cricket would never stop being the traditional age-old path to ultimate glory.