India‘s rising bowling sensation, Vaishnavi Sharma, recently sat down for an insightful interview on the Eye India channel on December 7, 2025. During the conversation, she shared the personal inspirations and sporting icons that have shaped her rapid ascent into the national side.

Vaishnavi Sharma shares her favourite cricketers: Top 3 male and female choices revealed

In a candid moment during her appearance on the Eye India channel, Vaishnavi was asked to name the three male and three female cricketers who inspire her the most. Without hesitation, she displayed her deep respect for the legends of the game, stating, “Among male cricketers, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are my favorites.” Her admiration for the modern greats was balanced with a nod to the history of the sport, as she added, “Sachin sir is also a favorite, as he is the God of Cricket, of course.”

When the conversation shifted to the women’s game, the young spinner spoke with visible affection for her senior teammates and mentors. She highlighted the impact of India’s core leadership, naming Smriti Mandhana (Smriti didi), Sneh Rana (Rana didi) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (Harman didi). By referring to them as ‘didi’ (elder sister), Vaishnavi showcased the close-knit bond and the culture of mentorship within the current Indian dressing room.

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Vaishnavi’s impact for India on the global stage

Vaishnavi’s journey into the senior Indian team has been nothing short of a fairy tale, driven by her extraordinary performance at the ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2025. During that tournament, she emerged as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 17 wickets at an incredible average of just 4.35. Her crowning moment came against Malaysia, where she etched her name in history by taking a hat-trick and finishing with figures of 5/5. This domestic and junior dominance paved the way for her senior debut in the T20I series against Sri Lanka in December 2025.

Since donning the Blue jersey, Vaishnavi has proven that she belongs at the highest level, consistently providing breakthroughs with her slow left-arm orthodox spin. In her debut series, she maintained a miserly economy rate, often under 5.00, and delivered a match-winning spell of 2/24 in Thiruvananthapuram. Her ability to bowl accurately during the middle overs and her composure under pressure have made her a vital asset for captain Harmanpreet.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.