The Women’s Premier League has a new youngest star: 16-year-old Deeya Yadav, who was drafted by Delhi Capitals for Rs 10 lakh. This acquisition makes her the youngest player ever to be bought at a WPL auction. Yadav, a promising batter from Haryana, expressed her excitement about joining the Capitals and playing alongside renowned Indian opener Shafali Verma. Her selection follows a series of standout performances in domestic cricket, highlighted by a stunning unbeaten 213 against Tripura in an U15 competition, a feat that significantly boosted her profile.
Verma, a senior teammate of Yadav’s for Haryana over the past three years, celebrated the young talent’s entry into the WPL. “Congratulations, Diya, welcome to Delhi Capitals,” Verma posted on social media. Yadav credits her time playing with Verma for developing a more aggressive batting style and enhancing her ability to perform under pressure. “I developed the intent of hitting when I started playing with her,” Yadav explained, emphasizing Verma’s influence on her game.
Delhi Capitals had been tracking Yadav’s progress closely. CEO Sunil Gupta highlighted the scouting team’s admiration for her skills. “We watched her closely in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy this year and were very impressed. Her range of shots and ball-striking ability, along with fearless approach, is what impressed our scouts,” Gupta mentioned. Yadav’s current form further supports this assessment; she was Haryana’s second-highest scorer in the recent Senior Women’s T20 Trophy and was a key player for North Zone in the Inter Zonal T20 event. Her cricketing journey began in Pune, drawing inspiration from her father, a former Delhi U19 cricketer.