To stay in the Indian team is a different challenge altogether from making it there, claims Deepti Sharma
Deepti Sharma has stated that she is eager to prove herself by fulfilling any role the Indian team assigns her considering she feels that people overlook the challenge of staying and succeeding in the team once they make their debut. She further talked about the upcoming KSL and her shy personality.
From making the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup two years ago as a 19-year old to being pushed to the team’s fringes, young all-rounder Deepti Sharma knows that she still has a lot to prove and fulfilll her potential. Initially, an opener where she made the world record of the highest opening wicket stand in all forms of international cricket, her spot has since been taken over by emerging talent Smriti Mandhana and she has to settle with limited opportunities batting down the order. However, it does not concern her as long as she gets a chance to perform.
“I back myself as an allrounder and batting-wise, I have prepared myself to go in anywhere. If the team wants to use me as a floater or gives me a designated position, I am happy fulfilling any role they assign. The Indian team has entered a stage where each one of us has a lot to prove, and as an allrounder, I have a lot of work to do in every department because the competition has gone up. The younger Deepti would think that once you made it to the Indian team, you've achieved a lot. What she didn't realise back then is that to stay there is a different challenge," she was quoted saying in an exclusive interview with ESPNCricinfo.
She will be making her debut in the upcoming Kia Super League when she steps on the field for Western Storm. Only four Indians have been handed contracts for the tournament, with compatriot Mandhana a teammate at Storm. The latter was last season’s standout performer and won the Player of the Tournament award.
"Smriti becoming the Player of the Tournament [in KSL], becoming the leading run-getter last year, showed that Indians can not only do well, but excel. The way her consistency improved after that brief lean patch, it's been very encouraging for all [of us in the Indian dressing room]. She's kept scoring runs and, as ever, kept her composure while batting, which I admire in her,” Sharma said of Mandhana.
Even though she has achieved enormous success and become a household name in the country after the women’s team success in the 2017 World Cup, she has retained her shy personality off the field,
“I mean, my personality is such you'll see that aggression reflect in my desire to get better in all three departments. I am not someone who will show aggression in any other way. I am quiet and shy by nature. After the tournament [2017 ICC Women’s World Cup], we got greater financial security and recognition. Earlier, I used to be really shy even to say yes to selfie requests, and although it doesn't come naturally to me even now, I'm learning to tackle these ," she concluded.