Australian cricket star Alana King is embracing her Indian heritage while making waves in the Women's Premier League (WPL). The leg-spinner, whose parents migrated from Chennai to Melbourne, recently joined the Delhi Capitals as a replacement player and shared her journey in an exclusive conversation.
Chennai Roots and a Spicy Connection
Alana King's connection to India is deeply personal. Her parents, Leroy and Sharon, are Anglo-Indians who moved from Chennai to Australia in the 1980s. While she doesn't speak Tamil, having grown up in Melbourne, Indian culture was a constant presence at home. "Indian food was always around, and my dad's cooking was incredible," King revealed. "The spice is in my blood." Her tolerance for spicy food often surprises her teammates, who then assume she can speak the language.
King last visited Chennai several years ago but hopes cricket will bring her back. "There's a multi-format series against India coming up next year, and if there's a game in Chennai, that would be really special," she said, expressing a desire to reconnect with her family's city.
A Whirlwind WPL Call-Up and Historic World Cup Feat
King's entry into the 2025 WPL season was dramatic. After going unsold in the initial auction, she received a call on Boxing Day night while attending the Australia-England Test match. She was picked by the Delhi Capitals as a replacement for all-rounder Annabel Sutherland, who withdrew due to personal reasons. "It was hectic and a bit chaotic," King admitted about the swift transition from holiday plans to flying to India, but she is "very grateful for the opportunity."
This opportunity follows a monumental achievement in her career. On October 25, 2025, during a Women's ODI World Cup match in Indore, King delivered a spell for the ages. She recorded figures of 7 wickets for 18 runs in just 7 overs, demolishing South Africa for a paltry 97. These are officially the best bowling figures in the history of the Women's Cricket World Cup. "It was pretty special to do it in a World Cup," she reflected, calling it a proud moment, especially with her family in attendance.
New DC Chapter and Looking Ahead
Now with the Delhi Capitals, King is excited about the team's prospects under new captain Jemimah Rodrigues—the same player whose match-winning century knocked Australia out of the 2025 World Cup semifinals. "It's nice to finally be on Jemimah's team instead of being on the receiving end," King quipped. She believes the fresh faces and changes in the DC squad could be beneficial and is hopeful for a "fourth time lucky" championship run for the franchise.
The pre-season camp in Goa has been positive, with King praising the energetic environment created by the support staff and the welcoming nature of her new teammates. She is also keen to learn from head coach Jonathan Batty and collaborate with international and Indian players alike.
Looking at the broader landscape, King acknowledged the sting of Australia's World Cup semifinal loss to India but gave full credit to the champions. She sees India's maiden World Cup triumph as "massive" for the global growth of women's cricket. The upcoming multi-format series in Australia against India presents a "massive challenge" against the world champions, one her team is eagerly anticipating.
When asked about her inspiration, King didn't hesitate to name Australian legend Shane Warne. "Watching Warne at the MCG was the reason I picked up leg-spin," she stated, highlighting his enduring influence on her craft. As she embarks on her WPL journey with Delhi Capitals, Alana King continues to weave her Indian roots into an already illustrious cricketing narrative.
