Nandani Sharma, a Delhi Capitals Women bowler, had a remarkable spell in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, scoring a historic hat-trick against the Gujarat Giants Women in Match No. 4 on Sunday, January 11 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
In only her second match in the WPL, Nandani came up with a performance to remember as she scripted a comeback of sorts in the final overs, despite Gujarat Giants Women managing to post a gigantic 209. Her hat-trick became the first of the 2026 season and fourth overall in WPL history. The Giants held sway for much of the innings, courtesy of another stellar batting display from Sophie Devine.
Nandani tilted the balance the other way in the last over. She dismissed Kashvee Gautam and then sent back Kanika Ahuja on the very next delivery, putting a sudden stop to the flow of runs. Rajeshwari Gayakwad fell on the third ball to complete Nandani’s hat-trick, sending waves of excitement through the stadium.
🖐 wicket haul!
🎩 hat-trick!
There is a new pace ace- Nandani Sharma! 🤩🔥#WPL2026 #TATAWPL pic.twitter.com/K3TO8Sz5iM
— Élise (@elise_ca_) January 11, 2026The drama didn’t stop there. Nandani delivered again off the very next ball, accounting for Renuka Singh Thakur, who fell for a duck to become the fourth wicket in four balls, completing a sensational double hat-trick that sealed Gujarat Giants Women’s fate. She finished with outstanding figures of 5 for 33 — the fifth-best in WPL history — and became the third Delhi Capitals bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the tournament.
Nandani was just the fourth bowler in WPL history to claim a hat-trick, following Issy Wong in 2023, Deepti Sharma in 2024, and Grace Harris in 2025. She is also the second Indian and only the second fast bowler to accomplish this feat.
Nandani’s heroics uplifted the spirits in the Delhi Capitals camp as they geared up to chase a tough target of 210. After losing their opening match to the Mumbai Indians, the Delhi Capitals will be eager to secure their first win of WPL 2026, riding high on the momentum from an outstanding bowling display.
