WPL 2026: Meet Anushka Sharma, the Debuting Heroine for Gujarat Giants

It is almost unheard-of for a young female cricketer to share the same name with a Bollywood actress and wife of veteran batsman Virat Kohli. However, 22-year-old Gujarat Giants batter Anushka Sharma is keen to make a name for herself as a professional WPL run-getter.

The youngster tore through a formidable Uttar Pradesh Warriorz (UPW) side to ensure GG claimed victory. Let’s see more details about Sharma and why she could become one of the WPL’s best batters in this era.  

Anushka Sharma Bio

How Many Runs Did Anushka Sharma Get vs UPW?

Anushka Sharma secured 44 runs from 30 balls to catapult GG towards victory against UPW. She delivered this remarkable performance from No. 3 and secured a memorable innings for GG fans and WPL commentators.

Why Does Anushka’s Performance Make Her a ‘Debut Heroine’? 

Anushka Sharma’s performance came in her first WPL match and against a seasoned UPW side with experienced players in all departments. Her blitz 44-run outing ensured the wickets GG lost early on in made no difference in the match outcome. Sharma’s haul eclipsed other performers on the field as GG marched to victory.

Did Sharma Break Any Records After Her WPL Debut?

Anushka paid a visit to the record books with her performance against the UPW. She is now the latest GG batter with highest runs on her debut. Her record beats Dani Gibson’s 34 runs.

How Did Sharma Gain Such an Advantage Over UPW?

Sharma acted as an anchor for GG’s middle order charge and responded with bursts where necessary. She provided GG enough momentum to reach a good-enough tally (207/4) to secure victory.

Does Sharma See Virat Kohli as a Mentor?

Anushka sees the husband of her namesake as a major influence behind her career. She idolises Virat Kohli and strives to maintain a career like India’s long-serving “Chase Master”. Sharma focuses on fitness as a major part of her aggressive campaign towards becoming a formidable batter across formats.

Registering a near half-century on debut and hitting big scores in back-to-back performances in recent months signals Anushka’s readiness for the big stage.

Sharma’s Bright WPL Start Takes a Hit

Anushka could not continue in her big-hitting spree against the Delhi Capitals when both sides met for their WPL 2026 fixture. The cricketer sustained a hand injury while attempting a fielding save at the boundary area.

GG’s management confirmed the injury shortly after this incident and said Sharma would be out of action for a brief period. Fans wished the youngster a swift recovery after this injury episode hampered her big-hitting desires at WPL 2026. Analysts report that the young batter could be out of WPL action until late January.

Anushka Sharma Last 10 Performances

Sharma has been on a hitting spree across performances at different levels of the women’s game. She has been in fine form internationally, with her performance for India B (52 runs from 48 balls) attracting massive attention from fans and sports analysts.

Sharma has not had a duck in her last 10 games with the lowest tally coming for Madhya Pradesh Women (MP-W) against Railways (9 runs) in October 2025. Her prolific run-scoring nature in domestic and One Day cricket majorly point to Sharma’s talent with the bat.