Deepti Sharma's T20 Form Slump: India's Bowling Coach Remains Confident
In Mumbai, Deepti Sharma has long been celebrated as India's cornerstone in women's cricket, excelling with both bat and ball. Her remarkable contributions were pivotal in India's Women's 2025 ODI World Cup victory last October-November, where she amassed 215 runs at an average of 30.71, including three half-centuries, and claimed 22 wickets in nine matches at an impressive average of 20.40. This stellar performance solidified her status as a premier off-spinning all-rounder.
Recent T20 Challenges and Series Struggles
However, 2024 has presented challenges for Deepti in the T20 format. During the Women's Premier League, her performance dipped as she managed only seven wickets in eight matches at an average of 31.42, with an economy rate of 8.80, and scored a modest 131 runs at 21.83. Her team, the UP Warriorz, failed to secure a playoff spot, highlighting her struggles.
The ongoing five-match T20I series in South Africa has further exposed these issues. In the first two games in Durban, Deepti failed to take a wicket, conceding 24 runs in 2.1 overs and 23 runs in three overs, while scoring just 1 run not out and 1 run in India's six-wicket and eight-wicket defeats. With India trailing 0-2, the team faces the risk of losing the series if they are defeated in the third match at Johannesburg's Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.
Bowling Coach's Unwavering Support
India's bowling coach, Aavishkar Salvi, expressed strong confidence in Deepti's ability to regain her form. In a virtual pre-match press conference from Johannesburg, Salvi emphasized her champion status, stating, "Deepti is a champion player. We all know that. One, two, or three games do not justify her immense talent and the performances she has delivered over the years. She has consistently been a champion bowler, batter, and all-rounder throughout her career."
Salvi detailed her efforts to bounce back, noting that Deepti is working intensively in the nets. "She is not at her best currently, but she is dedicating herself to improvement. In the drawing room, she focuses on her fitness and bowling, engaging in target practice and strategic discussions to refine her game plans for upcoming matches," he explained.
Team Resilience and Future Prospects
Salvi also backed the India women's team to recover from their current setbacks. He highlighted the series as valuable preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup in England in June, asserting, "This series challenges us against a strong opposition, and we entered it fully motivated. Two losses do not define our team's capabilities. With three games remaining, the players are confident and poised to bounce back stronger."
Reflecting on the initial matches, Salvi acknowledged execution issues. "In Durban, we implemented our plans but fell short in execution. We have identified and addressed these areas, and the team is practicing diligently to correct them. The players' experience and motivation will drive their comeback," he concluded.
