“I Will Remember That Six for the Rest of My Career”: Deepti Sharma on Her Match-winning Six in The Hundred Final

In a dramatic climax to the fourth edition of The Hundred at Lord’s on August 18, London Spirit emerged victorious thanks to a stunning six from India all-rounder Deepti Sharma. With four runs needed off the last three balls to beat Welsh Fire, Deepti’s powerful strike over long-on sealed the win, securing the trophy for her team and capping off a remarkable tournament.

Deepti’s six was not just the winning shot but the only maximum of the final, underscoring her critical role in the team’s success. Throughout the tournament, she had been in exceptional form, amassing 212 runs in six innings while being dismissed just once. Her strike rate of 132.5 was indicative of her aggressive yet controlled batting style, which played a pivotal role in London Spirit’s journey to the title.

Reflecting on the decisive moment, Deepti revealed her mindset during those tense final deliveries. “With four runs needed off three balls, I thought that the match has to be finished at this moment and on this delivery, instead of dragging it to the last two-three balls, as the mindset was to finish off the game as quickly as possible,” she explained in an exclusive conversation with IANS on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai.

Deepti, who was the set batter at the crease, felt the responsibility to finish the game rested on her shoulders. “I thought that I must take that responsibility on myself to finish off the game, because I was the only set batter at that time and that’s how finishing the game on this very delivery emerged in my mind,” she added.

As the ball sailed over the boundary, the Spirit Dugout, featuring stars like Heather Knight and Meg Lanning, erupted in celebration. For Deepti, the moment was one of redemption and satisfaction. “I felt really good after hitting that six, as I had missed these opportunities previously and didn’t want a repeat of it. So, I was really positive about finishing off the match and getting the trophy for the team. When you are positive about things, your body automatically reacts to it,” she said.

Deepti’s ability to close out games has been a much-needed boost for India, particularly in T20 cricket, where finishing matches has often been a challenge. The year 2024 has seen her truly come into her own as a finisher, a transformation that began during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) where she represented UP Warriorz. In the WPL 2024 season, Deepti scored 295 runs at a strike rate of 136.6, demonstrating her upgraded batting skills and newfound confidence.

She attributed her success to the hard work and mindset shift she underwent before the WPL. “The things which I followed during the WPL, I am going to follow that again in the upcoming matches during the World Cup. It’s just that I have changed my mindset a bit, like whatever the situation is, just be positive about it. The biggest thing though is, just enjoy, as in pressure situations, one can’t enjoy. But if you enjoy being in those situations, then all of the phases in those scenarios go out smoothly,” Deepti shared.

To enhance her hitting abilities, Deepti incorporated new drills into her training regimen, including practicing her shots against different types of balls. 

“In my skills sessions, I began to practice my shots against different kinds of balls… But when you play against a light ball, you get to understand how much you are able to hit your shots well, while playing against a leather ball tells you how far the ball is going after hitting a shot,” she elaborated. This focused training has clearly paid dividends, as evidenced by her performance in The Hundred and the WPL.

As Deepti basks in the glory of London Spirit’s victory, she fondly recalls the celebrations that followed her match-winning six. 

“We had really good celebrations after winning the trophy. When you get the opportunity to be the hero, you then become one by doing so, and then you get to learn a lot. The team atmosphere and environment was really good and everyone enjoyed a lot, including the support staff. The party we had in the dressing room and team hotel, it was very amazing and memorable for me. I will remember that six for the rest of my career.”

Deepti Sharma’s heroics at Lord’s not only secured a title for London Spirit but also showed her evolution as a cricketer who can handle pressure and deliver when it matters most. With the Women’s T20 World Cup on the horizon, India will be hoping that Deepti’s rich vein of form continues as she carries her confidence and skills into the global tournament.