NAVI MUMBAI, Jan 11 – A late-innings masterclass from Chandigarh-born seamer Nandini Sharma overshadowed a blistering knock by Sophie Devine, as Delhi Capitals restricted Gujarat Giants to 209 at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday.
Walking into the final over with the Giants eyeing a total well beyond 220, Nandini dismantled the lower order with clinical precision. She claimed four wickets in the over, including a hat-trick off the last three balls, to finish with figures of 5/33. The sequence began with Kanika Ahuja being stumped, followed by the bowled dismissals of Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Renuka Singh.
The tournament organizers noted the rarity of the feat, describing it as a “moment of sheer brilliance” that turned the momentum decisively back toward Delhi. Nandini’s hat-trick is only the fourth in the history of the WPL, joining an elite club of bowlers that includes Deepti Sharma and Issy Wong.
Earlier, the Giants had threatened to bat Delhi out of the contest. Sophie Devine, who retired from international cricket last year, showed no signs of rust as she hammered seven fours and eight sixes. Her assault was particularly severe on spinner Sneh Rana, who conceded 32 runs in a single over. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner also played a vital role, contributing a brisk 49 off 26 balls to push the score past the 200-mark.
The fightback was initiated by Shree Charani’s caught-and-bowled effort to remove Mooney, before Nandini returned to remove Devine in the 11th over. By the time the final over arrived, Nandini’s combination of pace and pinpoint accuracy left the Giants’ tail-enders with no answers.
This performance validates the faith shown by the Delhi Capitals management, who secured the Chandigarh pacer for Rs 20 lakh. The result leaves the Capitals in a strong position as they continue their 2026 campaign.
