Anushka Brijmohan Sharma made an impressive debut in the WPL with 44 runs off 30 balls against UP Warriorz at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai for the Gujarat Giants. The 22-year-old struck seven fours, and her contributions went a long way in providing a good total for her side during match two of WPL 2026 on Saturday. Sharma also built a partnership as they put on 103 runs with Ashleigh Gardner for the third wicket. The pair achieved their partnership in just 63 balls and tilted the innings in favor of the Gujarat Giants. The knock thus became the highest score upon WPL debut by a Gujarat Giants batter, surpassing that of Dani Gibson, who made 34 runs last season. Who is Anushka Brijmohan Sharma? Classical stuff! 😍Gujarat Giants’ young batter Anushka Sharma is showcasing her talent with fluent strokeplay on debut! 👏🏻#TATAWPL, #GGvUPW 👉 LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/wB52zoL2TW pic.twitter.com/W9MY1SrWVp — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 10, 2026 Gujarat Giants taking Anushka Sharma at the WPL 2026 Mega Auction for ₹45 lakh was a shock for many fans. The young Indian all-rounder shares her name with a Bollywood star, but her recognition in cricket came after years of hard work on the domestic circuit. Sharma plays for Madhya Pradesh and has been watched by many franchises for her calm batting style, smart shot selection, and for bowling some useful overs. Gujarat Giants went for her with a long-term plan, targeting her as a middle-order all-rounder for the future. Born on April 5, 2003, Sharma has already played for a number of domestic teams at the tender age of just 22. She has played for Madhya Pradesh Women, India C Women, India B U-19 Women, Central Zone Women, India E Women, and Bundelkhand Bulls Women. She has received praises from coaches for her maturity and how she handles pressure without panic. Also Read | 2026 WPL: detailed explanation of prize money for winners, runners up and others Anushka Sharma Domestic Record These stats from her domestic circuit testify why everyone was vying for her: Anushka Sharma Domestic Stats The stats across formats exemplify the reason why the teams find long-term value in her. In one-day cricket, her excellent batting average is 63, and her tendency to clear the boundary regularly assists her with wickets every 27 balls. Her T20 record is equally good. She manages to achieve a score of 21.8 runs per innings in the Women's Domestic T20 tournament, where she takes a wicket approximately every 18 balls, reinforcing her standing in quicker games. These numbers indicate all-round worthiness for her. She plays T20 with controlled pace and takes wickets at regular intervals. In the 50-over format, she maintained consistency along with explosive hitting. Historic Partnership Here in the WPL Sharma's debut also marked another entry in the record books of WPL: 100+ WPL Partnerships (3rd wicket or lower) Runs Players Team Year Wicket 109* P Khemnar, D Sharma UPW vs GG 2024 6th 106* H Kaur, N Sciver-Brunt MI vs UPW 2023 3rd 103 A Gardner, AB Sharma GG vs UPW 2026 3rd Her score of 44 is the highest by any batter on debut for Gujarat Giants Women in the history of Women Premier League. With proper guidance, Gujarat Giants believe that Sharma can become a dependable all-rounder in the future. Saturday's performance was a strong pointer that she really is cut out for the level.