Deepti pulls out of Women’s Hundred to manage workload

India’s star all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who helped London Spirits clinch the maiden Hundred title last year, has opted out of the 2025 season of the Women’s Hundred to manage her workload.

Deepti, who is currently with the touring Indian team in England, has had a busy recent schedule, balancing international commitments and franchise leagues. With a 50-over World Cup on home soil looming later this year, she has opted to withdraw from her £36,000 contract in order to give herself a short break.

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Deepti has been replaced by Charli Knott, the Australian allrounder, and Spirit’s squad will look significantly different this year.

Charlie Dean has been assigned the captaincy role for the injured Heather Knight, while Meg Lanning has been replaced by Grace Harris and Chris Liddle has taken over from Ashley Noffke as head coach.

Deepti’s withdrawal means that there are no Indian players under contract in the Hundred this year. The BCCI does not grant active men’s players No-Objection Certificates to play in overseas leagues, while the women’s players who have previously been involved either went undrafted or were unavailable due to workload concerns.