Aakash Chopra's Insights on WPL 2026 and Deepti Sharma's Historic Achievement

In an exciting preview of the Women's Premier League 2026, Aakash Chopra praises Deepti Sharma's remarkable form and predicts Shree Charani as a potential Emerging Player of the Season. The tournament kicks off on January 9, featuring a thrilling opener between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Deepti has recently made history as the highest wicket-taker in Women's T20 Internationals, surpassing 150 wickets. With her impressive performance alongside Charani in the recent series against Sri Lanka, cricket fans are eager to see what unfolds in the upcoming season.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 31, 2025, 18:50 IST

Chopra's Predictions for WPL 2026

Aakash Chopra, the former Indian cricketer, has lauded the exceptional performance of Deepti Sharma, an all-rounder for UP Warriorz, describing her as 'unstoppable' in her current form. He also highlighted the potential of Shree Charani from Delhi Capitals, predicting she could clinch the Emerging Player of the Season title in the forthcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026.

The WPL 2026 is set to kick off on January 9, featuring an exciting opening match in Navi Mumbai, where the reigning champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), will face off against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Chopra remarked, "Given Deepti's current form, she is indeed unstoppable. Since her performance in the WPL has improved significantly, this could be her season once again. I believe Shree Charani has a strong chance of winning the Emerging Player award, especially after her impressive World Cup performance. I anticipate she will be the top spinner in the tournament," during an interview on JioStar.

Deepti Sharma's Record-Breaking Feat

Deepti Sharma has made history by becoming the highest wicket-taker in Women's T20 Internationals, surpassing Australia's Megan Schutt with a total of 151 wickets. She achieved this milestone during the fifth and final T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday, marking her as the first Indian cricketer, regardless of gender, to reach 150 wickets in T20Is.

Recent Performance Highlights

Currently, Deepti Sharma boasts 152 wickets in 133 matches, maintaining an average of over 18.00, with her best bowling figures being 4/10. In the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, both Deepti and Charani emerged as the leading wicket-takers, each claiming five wickets as India secured a 5-0 victory.