Name Hindi: शुभलक्ष्मी शर्मा / Gender Woman
Shubhlakshmi Sharma: A Trailblazer in Women’s Cricket
A remarkable personality in women’s cricket, Shubhlakshmi Sharma, born on 10th May 1989, has considerably transformed and elevated the standard of Indian women’s cricket throughout her career. The right-hand batsman and medium-speed bowler made a significant contribution to extracting women’s cricket from the shadows of male dominance in India.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born and raised in Guwahati, Assam, Shubhlakshmi was introduced to cricket at an early age by her father Biren Sharma, who himself was a cricketer at district level. Determined to make a mark for herself in the sport, Shubhlakshmi committed herself to mastering the game under his coaching.
Her dedication toward pursuing cricket as a professional career led her onto the path that would shape her future. She started off playing domestic cricket at very young age before transitioning into representing her state team in various national-level tournaments.
Career Highlights
- In late 2011, she caught everyone’s attention when she played against Bangladesh Under-19 girls while representing East Zone scoring 66 not out and claiming two wickets.
- She made her ODI debut for India on January 28th, 2014 where she claimed one wicket against Sri Lanka. Throughout her ODI career, she grabbed total eleven wickets with economy rate less than four which is considered good in modern day format of limited over games.
- An integral player during the Women’s Asia Cup held in 2012-13 in Thailand, she was bestowed with the ‘Woman of the Match’ title against Sri Lanka women recording her career best figures (4/11).
- Not limiting herself to ODI format, she also made her T20 debut on January 25, 2014 and went onto play total seventeen games representing India bagging 13 wickets.
Ambitions and Aspirations
In spite of achieving remarkable success in cricket at national as well international level, Shubhlakshmi Sharma’s ambitions extend beyond just being a cricketer. She is passionate about encouraging more girls in India to take up cricket professionally and wants to dedicate herself toward nurturing young talents post her retirement from all formats of game.
The Legacy of Shubhlakshmi Sharma
Sharma’s impact on Indian women’s cricket sets a high bar for perseverance and resilience. Her journey from playing in local cricket grounds to representing her nation on an international platform serves as inspiration for aspiring female athletes across the world. With years of dedication, sheer hard work, and an undying passion for the sport, Shubhlakshmi has etched her name among the notable personalities contributing to the prominence of women’s cricket worldwide.
