Joining Sunrisers Leeds in 2026 Hundred Women

Orange is my favourite colour—so it always feels good wherever I see orange.” When Deepti Sharma said that during The Hundred Women’s 2026, it wasn’t just fan talk. It summed up her move to Sunrisers Leeds, a franchise that wears orange like a badge.

The moment fans noticed: a sentiment tied to the home ground

Deepti opened up on JioStar after getting picked by Sunrisers Leeds. She was very excited, and the reason was personal: “orange is my favourite colour.” Then came the practical thrill—playing on our home ground here in Leeds.
She described the stadium vibe as something you notice every day. “The ground is full of Sunrisers fans,” she said, adding that “everywhere I look, I see orange.” That’s a reminder—in franchise cricket, identity and comfort can sometimes matter more than strategy.

The news: Deepti Sharma’s Sunrisers Leeds deal and what it signals

Deepti Sharma joined Sunrisers Leeds for £27,500 at the 2026 Hundred Women’s auction, after a stint with London Spirit Women. The deal stands out because it brings a spin-bowling all-rounder into a squad built to defend totals and strike in the middle overs.
CricTracker flagged her excitement about joining the defending champions, linking it to the club’s branding and fan base. That emotional fit isn’t just marketing. In a short-format competition, every ball is judged, and a player who trusts the environment often settles in quicker.
Sunrisers Leeds’ squad for The Hundred Women’s 2026 included Danielle Gibson (captain), Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Deepti Sharma, Jess Jonassen, and Bryony Smith. In other words, she slots into a core where leadership, top-order power, and overseas spin/pace options are already firmly in place.

Why her bowling will matter: early impact in the league stage

Deepti’s Hundred Women’s 2026 wasn’t just about quotes—her numbers spoke too. In Sunrisers Leeds’ opening match against MI London Women at The Kia Oval, London, the team won by 7 wickets, chasing 107/8 with 31 balls to spare.
She finished with 2/20, taking the wickets of Hayley Matthews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge. That mattered because MI London had raced to 56/0. Breaking that early momentum often decides a chase in The Hundred—when a batter settles, boundaries come in clusters.
That said, the chase itself highlighted control. The match report noted Sunrisers Leeds finished at 109/3 in 69 balls. Phoebe Litchfield grabbed headlines with 43 not out off 26 balls and Player of the Match, but Deepti’s wickets flipped the contest from “settled start” to “sudden doubt.”

The bigger context: Deepti’s Hundred form across matchups

This wasn’t a one-off. A different 2026 Hundred report showed she took 2 wickets for 18 runs in 20 deliveries against London Spirit at Headingley, plus 6 off 7 balls with the bat. Another report added that against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, she produced 3 wickets for 11 runs from 15 deliveries.
In yet another 2026 match report, Deepti claimed 2 wickets against Manchester Super Giants, helping Sunrisers Leeds reach the Elim against Southern Brave. Together, these spells draw a clear profile: she doesn’t just roll her arm over—she takes wickets in tight windows. That’s exactly what franchises pay for when overs are condensed and margins shrink.

What it means for Sunrisers Leeds and the Indian fanbase

For Sunrisers Leeds, Deepti’s arrival blends culture and craft: orange support energy, plus bowling that can disrupt a set top order. For Indian fans watching from afar, it’s another familiar thread—Indian all-round skills staying central in global franchise conversations.
And when she talks about “special” home-ground moments, it ties into why Hundred crowds matter. In a chase-or-defend format, one strong burst over can flip the stadium from confidence to urgency. If she keeps delivering wicket-balls in those phases, her excitement could become a season-long edge.

Ranked List: what Deepti’s Sunrisers Leeds move changes in 2026

1. Instant identity connection: Her own words about orange and Leeds fans show she’s mentally aligned with the franchise culture.
2. Auction value behind a specialist role: The £27,500 purchase signals the franchise expected more than part-time overs.
3. Power over MI London Women’s early surge: Her 2/20 included key dismissals to help halt MI’s 56/0 platform.
4. Wicket timing in a short league chase: Breaking set batters early is often the difference between “chase control” and “late wobble.”
5. All-round contribution potential: Against London Spirit, she delivered 2 wickets and scored 6 off 7 balls.
6. Matchups where she swings games: The 3/11 from 15 against Birmingham Phoenix reflects wicket-taking in economical bursts.
7. Knock-on effect for qualification: The report of 2 wickets vs Manchester Super Giants supported Leeds reaching the Elim.
8. Depth in a compact bowling department: The squad mix (captain Danielle Gibson, plus all-round/overseas options) gives Leeds tactical flexibility.
9. Momentum-building for the chase: With Leeds finishing at 109/3 in 69 balls vs MI, her wickets created the conditions for easier batting.
10. A role that fits defending and chasing: Hundred teams need bowlers who can take wickets whether the batters are attacking or settling.
11. Fan-facing confidence: When players speak clearly about home advantage, it often boosts continuity in team messaging.

The orange spark, now needs wicket bursts

Deepti Sharma’s excitement about joining Sunrisers Leeds boils down to colour, the home-ground vibe, and a squad that knows its identity. The next step is straightforward: keep turning pressure overs into wickets—like she did when MI went from 56/0 to trouble.

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FAQs

How much did Deepti Sharma cost in the Hundred Women’s 2026 auction?

She joined Sunrisers Leeds for £27,500 in the 2026 Hundred Women’s auction.

Why did Deepti Sharma say she was excited about Sunrisers Leeds?

She said she was excited because orange is her favourite colour and because playing at the Leeds home ground feels special with a strong fan presence.

Did Deepti Sharma take wickets in Sunrisers Leeds’ opening match?

Yes. Against MI London Women at The Kia Oval, London, she took 2/20, dismissing Hayley Matthews and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

What other performances did reports mention from Deepti in 2026?

Reports cited 2 wickets for 18 runs vs London Spirit at Headingley, 3 wickets for 11 runs vs Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, and 2 wickets vs Manchester Super Giants.