The Delhi Premier League final belonged to the South Delhi Superstarz – and to their young captain, Shweta Sehrawat. With her composed leadership and a crucial 34 off 24 balls in a low-scoring thriller, the 21-year-old guided her team to a one-run victory over the Central Delhi Queens, sealing the franchise’s maiden title.
It was a fitting reward for a player who has been steadily rising through Indian women’s cricket. From leading India U19 in a T20 series against New Zealand in 2022 to being part of the victorious U19 World Cup side under Shafali Verma, Sehrawat has consistently been in the spotlight. Now, after taking her DPL team to two finals in as many years – and finally lifting the trophy – she has reinforced her reputation as one of Delhi’s brightest talents.
When asked whether there had been pressure to make amends after losing the final last year, Sehrawat was clear in her response, “No, there was no pressure. It was more about learning from the mistakes of last year. We knew the areas where we were lagging, so this season the focus was on making those aspects stronger and putting our best foot forward.”
Her captaincy has often drawn praise, but Sehrawat was quick to credit the people around her, “Honestly, my teammates make me look good. I am blessed to have such a supportive team. Everyone played their roles perfectly and the support staff and management helped a lot as well. Getting the right team combination was key and that is what led us to the win.”
Despite being only 21, Sehrawat has frequently found herself leading players younger than her. She described the dynamic within her side, “I never faced any difficulties. Most of us have played domestic cricket together, U23s, U19s. We are a very young team, with only a couple of seniors like Tanisha (Singh) and me. We try to guide the youngsters as much as possible, but at the same time, we also learn from them. They bring fresh perspectives, which help the team’s unity.”
Her style of leadership, she admitted, is not restricted to one mould, “I would say a mix of both. When the situation demands aggression, I do not hesitate to bring it out in tense moments where putting pressure on the opposition matters. Virat Kohli is my idol, so you can guess where the aggression comes from (laughs).”
The South Delhi Superstarz entered the death overs of the final with very few runs to defend. Sehrawat recalled the message she gave her bowlers, “The plan was simple: go for as many dot deliveries as possible and let the opposition make mistakes. We focused on not giving away easy runs. Our fielding could have been tighter, but in the end, the result is what counts.”
Having played 23 matches for UP Warriorz in the Women’s Premier League, Sehrawat has rubbed shoulders with some of the game’s best, including skipper Alyssa Healy. She spoke about what stood out when playing alongside and against Australian cricketers, “I don’t think there’s a huge difference. At the end of the day, we’re all cricketers writing our own journeys. Indians have a strong mindset, too. The Aussies stand out because of their positivity, they don’t take things to heart and they move on quickly.”
She elaborated further on what she had observed during the WPL, “In the WPL, I noticed that they might make one or two mistakes early in the tournament, but they never repeat them. They bounce back stronger and that consistency across the tournament is their biggest strength.”
She was the highest run scorer with 297 runs at the inaugural edition of the U19 T20 World Cup in 2023 and played a huge part in India’s championship journey. Despite being hailed as the “next big thing” in Indian women’s cricket, Sehrawat is yet to make her international debut.
But her belief remains firm, “I am very confident. The way this Delhi Premier League season began for me was just the start. I know I have a lot more to showcase. You will definitely see me play in the next World Cup, very soon, you’ll see me in India colours.”
In the Women’s Premier League so far, she has scored 261 runs from 23 matches with a highest of 45. That experience, combined with her domestic success, continues to shape her journey. With a DPL trophy now to her name and India ambitions burning bright, Shweta Sehrawat stands at the cusp of the next chapter in her career.
(Quotes sourced from News 18)
