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In a chat after leading her franchise to Delhi Premier League title win, Shweta Sehrawat opens up on her leadership, WPL experience and India aspirations.
Shweta Sehrawat is confident she will represent India at the senior level. (Picture Credit: IG/shweta_sehrawat_11)
Allrounder Shweta Sehrawat first came to the limelight when she led the India U19 team in a T20 series against New Zealand in 2022. She then featured in the inaugural Women’s U19 World Cup under Shafali Verma’s captaincy, a tournament India went on to win.
Three years on, Shweta has led her Delhi Premier League team, the South Delhi Superstarz, to two finals and one title. Known for her sharp on-field attitude and calm captaincy, the 21-year-old continues to impress as one of Delhi’s most promising talents.
In a conversation with News18 CricketNext after her franchise’s title win, Shweta spoke about leadership, her experience in the Women’s Premier League, and her India aspirations.
You were the captain last year as well but lost in the final. This season, you again reached the final and went one step further. Was there pressure to make amends?
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.
You’ve consistently led sides, from India U19 to DPL. What makes you a good captain?
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.
As a 21-year-old, how do you handle players younger than you?
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.
Would you call yourself an aggressive captain or more of a calm one?
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).
In the final, with very few runs to defend in the death overs, what was your message to the 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.
You’ve played alongside several Australians in the WPL. People often talk about their “Aussie mentality”. What do you think sets them apart?
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.
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.
Not long ago, you were spoken of as the next big thing in Indian women’s cricket. But the senior call-up has remained elusive. How hopeful are you now?
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.
You play across formats. How do you adapt your batting to different situations?
Playing practice matches with boys helped me a lot. I realised the importance of valuing my wicket and knowing when to score. It’s about reading the game situation. If you are chasing on the last day, you need to accelerate; if wickets are falling, you need to hold one end.
It is all about understanding what the side needs in every phase. As women’s cricketers get more match exposure, we will all grow better at moulding ourselves to different formats.
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