Fast bowler Nandni Sharma has described her maiden selection to the Indian women's cricket team for the upcoming T20I series against England and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup as a 'dream come true,' saying the reality of representing Team India only sank in when she took the field in the tour game against the ECB Development Women's XI in Chelmsford. The Chandigarh-based pacer is among the most talked-about fast-bowling discoveries in Indian women's cricket after a breakout domestic season.

The Moment the News Landed

Nandni admitted she was not even paying attention when the squad was announced. 'They were announcing something. I was not even looking. I didn't even think it would come. Then I got a call from my friend about it and I couldn't believe it. I rechecked it again to see if I was really named in the World Cup squad,' she said in a video shared on BCCI's official social media channels on Thursday.

The pacer's first instinct was to call home. 'I called my family first. I spoke to them at home. They asked me why I was crying. Then I told them I had been named in the World Cup squad,' she said. Her father's response was characteristically grounded: 'You have worked hard, you have achieved the fruit of it and you have to keep doing a good job.'

The India Jersey Moment

Wearing the India jersey for the first time left Nandni visibly moved. 'When I wore this jersey for the first time, I was standing in front of the mirror. I had worked so hard for this. It was a dream come true. I was standing in front of the mirror for 2-3 minutes and tried seeing how I looked. I was even trying to look back to see how I was looking. It was a very good feeling. I can't explain it, but it was very good,' she said.

WPL Breakthrough and the Road Here

Nandni was the joint-highest wicket-taker in her debut Women's Premier League (WPL) season, claiming 17 wickets for Delhi Capitals — a tally that included a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul. That campaign put her firmly on the national selectors' radar. 'WPL has had a big impact on my life. I have seen a lot of positive changes. I have gained a lot of confidence after the performances there,' she said.

The WPL, now in its early years, has increasingly served as a fast-track pathway for domestic talent into the senior national setup — Nandni's selection is the latest evidence of that pipeline working as intended.

Personal Growth Through Injury and Adversity

Reflecting on a turbulent recent period, Nandni said the past 6-7 months had been both rewarding and difficult, with an injury serving as a turning point in her maturity. 'My life has taught me a lot. Earlier, I used to learn. Now, I have learned to come down a little after achieving something, especially after I had an injury. These 6-7 months have been good and difficult,' she said.

She added that recognition has grown alongside her performances: 'A lot has changed in a positive way. People have started to know me. I want to learn something good and something good for my team and country. If I get an opportunity, I want to grab it.'

What's Next for Nandni

With the T20I series against England already underway and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on the horizon, Nandni will be looking to convert her domestic form into international impact. Her pace and ability to take wickets in clusters make her a genuine option for the Indian attack, and her stated hunger to keep improving suggests selectors may have unearthed a long-term asset.