Nandni Sharma: Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar are my biggest bowling influences
Synopsis
Nandni Sharma didn't just pick pace bowling — she fought for it. From being the only girl in boys' training sessions to resisting a switch to spin despite injuries, the India seamer's journey is built on grit. Her role models span Irfan Pathan's swing, Bumrah's control, and Marizanne Kapp's relentlessness — a blueprint she is quietly assembling into her own identity.
Key Takeaways
Nandni Sharma named Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah as her biggest current bowling influences, citing their control and variations.
She grew up idolising Irfan Pathan for his swing bowling and credits him with sparking her interest in pace.
In women's cricket, she looks up to South Africa seamer Marizanne Kapp for her pace and consistency.
Nandni trained almost exclusively with boys in her early years — she was the only girl — an experience she credits with accelerating her development.
She considered switching to spin on multiple occasions due to the physical demands of fast bowling, but consistent wicket-taking kept her committed to pace.
India fast bowler Nandni Sharma has named Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah as her primary cricketing influences, revealing that she closely studies their control, variations, and match temperament as she continues to develop her craft. The young pacer, speaking in an interview with JioStar, also opened up about growing up idolising Irfan Pathan and drawing inspiration from South Africa women's seamer Marizanne Kapp.
The role models behind her rise
Nandni traced her love for pace bowling to watching Irfan Pathan's artistry with the swinging ball in her formative years. 'I grew up watching Irfan Pathan sir bowl. The way he swung the ball and took wickets, that really made me want to do the same,' she said. She added that her current benchmarks are two of India's finest seamers: 'Currently, I look up to Bhuvneshwar bhaiya and Bumrah paaji. The way they bowl with control and variations is something I try to learn from.'
On the women's side, Nandni cited Marizanne Kapp as a constant source of motivation. 'She bowls with pace, hits the right areas, and always gives her best. Watching her inspires me to keep pushing myself,' she noted.
Training with boys shaped her game
A defining chapter in Nandni's development was training almost exclusively alongside boys during her early years — an experience she credits with sharpening every facet of her game. 'The moment I started bowling, the coaches pushed me to play with the boys. I was the only girl among them. But that never stopped me,' she recalled.
The intensity of those sessions — hard-hit balls, high-pace bowling, and no concessions — forced her to raise her standard rapidly. 'They bowled fast, they hit the ball hard, and I had to raise my game to keep up. Fast bowling attracted me a lot at that time,' she said. This environment, she explained, was the single biggest reason she committed to pace bowling over any other discipline.
The spin temptation she resisted
Nandni admitted the physical toll of fast bowling did make her consider switching to spin — not once, but on multiple occasions. The injuries, the fitness demands, and the extra recovery load all prompted the question. 'At one point, I thought about becoming a spinner. The idea crossed my mind more than once,' she said candidly.
What ultimately kept her on the pace-bowling path was results. Wickets kept arriving, her performances improved with each outing, and the confidence that followed made the idea of switching fade. 'I would see myself succeeding with pace, and the thought of switching to spin would fade away. Wickets kept coming, and that gave me confidence,' she explained. The physical demands remain a reality she manages carefully, but her identity as a fast bowler is now firmly set.
What her journey signals
Nandni's development arc — shaped by male training partners, senior male role models, and a global women's pace icon — reflects a broader shift in how India's next generation of women cricketers are building their games. Her willingness to confront the physical risks of fast bowling rather than take the easier spin route underlines a competitive hunger that selectors are likely to keep tracking closely.
Point of View
But the absence of senior India women's pace bowlers in her list of role models is telling. If India is serious about building a pace-bowling pipeline for women, the answer cannot keep being 'train with the boys' — it requires dedicated high-performance pathways. Nandni's success despite those gaps is impressive; it should not become the template.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Nandni Sharma's biggest bowling influences?
Nandni Sharma has named Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah as her primary current influences, citing their control and variations. She also grew up idolising Irfan Pathan for his swing bowling, and looks up to South Africa's Marizanne Kapp in women's cricket.
Why did Nandni Sharma choose pace bowling over spin?
Nandni considered switching to spin on multiple occasions due to the physical demands and injury risks of fast bowling. However, consistent wicket-taking and improving performances with pace kept her committed — each time the idea arose, results on the field pushed it aside.
How did training with boys shape Nandni Sharma's career?
Nandni was the only girl in her early training group and competed with boys in all sessions — fielding, batting, and bowling. The high pace and intensity of those sessions forced her to raise her game rapidly and deepened her commitment to fast bowling.
Who is Marizanne Kapp and why does Nandni Sharma admire her?
Marizanne Kapp is a South Africa women's cricketer widely regarded as one of the world's leading pace bowlers. Nandni admires her for bowling with pace, hitting the right areas consistently, and always giving her best — qualities she aspires to replicate.
What challenges does Nandni Sharma face as a fast bowler?
Nandni has spoken openly about the physical toll of pace bowling, including frequent injuries and the need for extra fitness and body management. These demands led her to consider spin at various points, though her success with the ball ultimately reinforced her identity as a fast bowler.
