Deepti Sharma to feature for London Spirit In The Hundred 2024
Team India all-rounder Deepti Sharma will return to The Hundred for the first time and is in line to play her first match since the inaugural edition in 2021 by plying her trade for the London Spirit. The off-spinner will link up with the squad as Grace Harris' replacement, who has suffered an injury.
Deepti was part of Birmingham Pheonix in the 2022 edition, but failed to get a game. As far as the 26-year-old's stint in the Hundred is concerned, it was a fruitful one in 2021. Having played eight matches, she claimed 10 scalps, averaging 13.60 alongside an economy rate of 5.26.
However, she will miss the start of the competition due to the Asia Cup in Dambulla, with the tournament beginning on July 19th as India faces Pakistan.
Erin Burns will replace the Indian spinner for the first couple of games for the team, as she is already in the country playing for the Northern Diamonds. With Richa Ghosh (Birmingham Pheonix) and Smriti Mandhana (Southern Brave) also involved in The Hundred, they will miss the first week of the competition too.
London Spirit finished outside top 4 in the 2023 edition
The Spirit didn't have the best time in the competition last year as they finished sixth in the table with two wins and four losses. The inaugural season saw the London-based side finish fourth and seventh in the following edition. Hence, they will be looking to put on an improved show this year.
The Southern Brave will start as the defending champions, having beaten the Northern Superchargers by 34 runs in the final at the Lord's Cricket Ground in London. The women's edition begins on July 23rd with the Oval Invincibles facing the Birmingham Pheonix at The Oval in London.
The men's edition will also begin the same day, with the same teams locking horns against each other.