Against South Africa at Kingsmead, Anushka Sharma became the 92nd to play a T20 International for India Women.
After Kashvee Gautam, Anushka Sharma debuts as well
Gautam and Anushka were the two uncapped players in the Indian squad for their five-match T20I series in South Africa. Having debuted in ODIs in April 2025 and in Tests in March 2026, Gautam debuted in T20Is in the first game here.
Batting at six, Gautam had scored an eight-ball 10 on debut before conceding 29 in three wicketless overs on debut, and was dropped for the second game. Kranti Gaud and the uncapped Anushka replaced Gautam and Renuka Singh Thakur.
When India became 46-2 after five overs, captain Harmanpreet Kaur promoted Anushka above her. The debutant struggled to find quick runs, scored 28 off 31 balls with three fours, dominating the strike in a 46-ball partnership of 53 with Shafali Verma.
Anushka eventually holed out to deep mid-wicket off Chloe Tryon (4-0-22-3). The wicket triggered a collapse as Tumi Sekhukhune (4-0-31-3) ran through the lower middle-order. Barring Verma (57 in 38 balls) and Anushka, no one managed to reach 15 as India were bowled out for 147 in 20 overs.
At the time of writing, South Africa were 40-0 in four overs with Sune Luus (14) and Laura Wolvaardt (25) at the crease.
2nd T20I, South Africa Women vs India Women
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Who is Anushka Sharma?
A hard-hitting batter from Madhya Pradesh who also bowls off-breaks, Anushka first came to limelight during her stint with the Gujarat Giants in the 2026 WPL. She smashed a 30-ball 44 on WPL debut, against the UP Warriorz, and later had a 25-ball 39 against Delhi Capitals.
She finished the season with 177 runs at 129. Among Indian batters with as many runs, only Smriti Mandhana (153), Richa Ghosh (151), Kaur (151), and Jemimah Rodrigues (142) – all of whom are first-choice India nationals – scored at better strike rates.
While she did not bowl in the WPL, Anushka has 29 wickets from 54 T20 games at 11.03 and an economy of a mere 5.42. This includes figures of 4-0-23-5 for Central Zone against North East Zone in November 2025.
𝘿𝙚𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝘿𝙞𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 🙌
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) April 19, 2026
A proud moment she’ll cherish forever 💙
🎥 Inside Anushka Sharma’s T20I cap presentation 🧢
With words of encouragement from Captain Harmanpreet Kaur 👏#TeamIndia | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/vo18uLY5cE
