Who is Deeya Yadav, the 16-year old prodigy who achieved THIS massive feat of becoming the….
The Women’s Premier League has always been about ‘magic waiting to happen,’ but tonight’s clash between the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians feels like a genuine passing of the torch. With a high-stakes match on the cards, both teams have opted to trust the next generation, handing out debuts that have fans and pundits alike buzzing.
The big headline? History has been rewritten. Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues confirmed at the toss that 16-year-old sensation Deeya Yadav is in the starting XI, making her the youngest player to ever take the field in the WPL.
From the Living Room to the Big Stage
It’s wild to think that Deeya’s journey started just a few years ago. Like many of us, she was glued to the TV during the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup final. That match didn’t just inspire her, it gave her a mission to one day lead India to a trophy of their own.
Her rise has been nothing short of meteoric. After her father, Rakesh Yadav (himself a former Delhi U-19 player), enrolled her in a Pune academy, Deeya began tearing up the domestic circuit. Last year, she turned heads in the Under-15 One Day Trophy with some eye-watering stats:
- Total Runs: 578
- Average: 96.33
- The Big One: A historic, unbeaten 213 off just 125 balls against Tripura.
Acquired for her base price of Rs 10 lakh, the Haryana native steps in for Minnu Mani tonight. It’s a bold move by the Capitals, but when you have a talent that averages nearly 100 in age-group cricket, you play her.
Mumbai Counters with International Pedigree
Not to be outdone, the Mumbai Indians have also handed a cap to a rising star of their own. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma makes her debut tonight, coming in as a replacement for the injured G Kamalini.
While Vaishnavi is only 20, she brings a wealth of recent ‘big game’ experience, She was a key part of the Indian squad that lifted the 2025 Under-19 T20 World Cup. She’s already tasted senior international cricket in the recent T20 series against Sri Lanka. Her performances have been so clinical that she’s already been fast-tracked into the ODI squad for the upcoming Australia tour.
Tactical Outlook
Delhi won the toss and chose to bowl first, clearly looking to put Mumbai’s hitters under early pressure. It’ll be fascinating to see how Deeya handles the nerves of the world’s biggest stage, and whether Vaishnavi’s left-arm spin can stifle a dangerous DC middle order.