![Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma [Source: X and Screengrabs]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776612553158_ViratKohliandAnushkaSharma.jpg?type=hq)
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma [Source: X and Screengrabs]
Anushka Sharma has just made her debut for India Women's national cricket team in T20I cricket, where the Madhya Pradesh-born was playing against South Africa Women's on Sunday in Durban.
While some may get confused with the name Anushka Sharma, associating it with Anushka, the wife of Virat Kohli, it is actually a 23-year-old all-rounder who impressed in the latest edition of the Women's Premier League and then in the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars.
Who Is Young Sensation Anushka Sharma?
Anushka’s debut has created a lot of buzz on the internet, given the fact that she shares her name with Kohli’s wife.
The young off-spinning all-rounder has 177 runs in WPL 2026 from just seven innings for the Gujarat Giants. For India, she had a successful campaign, scoring 116 runs in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.
However, she first came into the spotlight in the domestic circuit, where she struck a 58-ball 80 for Central Zone in the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal Trophy. She also scored 207 runs in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, which might have attracted the selectors’ attention.
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Notably, she was the second-highest run-scorer in the Madhya Pradesh Women’s League, scoring 93 runs in four matches for Bundelkhand Bulls.
Anushka Makes A Hot and Cold India Debut
The namesake of Virat Kohli’s wife made her debut in the second T20I against the South Africa team at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground on April 19.
The young batter came in at number four after Jemimah Rodrigues fell in the fifth over. India were struggling at that point, yet Anushka failed to steer the early scares.
Anushka Sharma, who would have been responsible for building resilience in the top and middle order, could not deliver as she was outfoxed by Chloe Tryon in the 13th over, walking back for just 28 runs off 31 deliveries.
Nevertheless, fans took to social media to both congratulate and criticise her for her debut performance for the national team.
Expectations of India Women from Anushka
As Harmanpreet Kaur handed Anushka Sharma her debut India cap, the young all-rounder was put on a pedestal with a big arrival on the grand stage.
Although India dropped her from the winning match of the series, Sharma's inclusion in the playing XI was a replacement for Renuka Singh Thakur, who was rested for the second clash.
Moreover, Anushka was brought in to steady the middle order like India star Virat Kohli and offer a hand with the ball.
Nevertheless, after a modest outing with the bat, Anushka also failed to make an impact with the ball, as she managed to bowl just one delivery, conceding a four, with Tazmin Brits sealing the game for the Proteas Women.
IND-W Lose 2nd T20I Against SA-W
In the match, Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana opened for India women's national cricket team. However, Mandhana departed too soon, scoring only 12 runs off 7 deliveries. Jemimah Rodrigues also faltered for just 2 runs, with Harmanpreet Kaur walking back for 12.
Moreover, both the top and middle order, despite featuring heavyweight names, failed to make a mark with the bat, with surprisingly Shafali and Anushka Sharma emerging as the top scorers.
South Africa took only 17.1 overs to chase down a total of 147 on the board. Laura Wolvaardt and Sune Luus stitched together a 106-run stand to take the game away, as Tazmin Brits and Annerie Dercksen remained unbeaten to finish off the match with eight wickets in hand.
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