Meet Deeya Yadav: MS Dhoni Fan and Ambidextrous Bowler Who Created History at the WPL Mega Auction

A week ago, IT professionals Pinky and Rakesh Yadav went through a tense evening as they waited for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction. At home, Pinky was nervous, while Rakesh was on his way back from the office, just 18 kilometres away. Their 16-year-old daughter, Deeya, was in Kerala with Haryana’s U23 squad for T20 matches, waiting for her name to be called in the auction.

The tension rose when auctioneer Mallika Sagar announced Deeya’s name. The room went silent for 10–15 seconds before Delhi Capitals, who had been tracking the young talent, raised their paddle and bought her at the base price of Rs 10 lakh.

Rakesh recalled the moment and said, “When DC finally raised the paddle, I felt huge relief. It was our first auction experience, so it was both amazing and stressful.” Pinky felt mostly fear. She had seen several players go unsold before Deeya’s turn came. “I was scared about what would happen when her name came up. But when DC bid, I was shocked and relieved. We still can’t believe it happened so fast,” she told IANS.

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Life After the WPL Auction

Since Deeya became the youngest player to be signed in a WPL auction, life has changed for the Yadav family. “We are a normal middle-class family. The attention Deeya is getting, and the many phone calls, feel overwhelming," her father Rakesh said.

At Delhi Capitals, Deeya will now play alongside her idol, India opener Shafali Verma. They had built a good connection in the Haryana setup, and will now continue together in DC. Shafali has been Deeya’s favourite player for years, along with MS Dhoni.

Although Deeya is left-handed in daily life, she bats right-handed. Watching Shafali’s fearless style shaped her own game. Her standout knock of 213* off 125 balls against Tripura in the 2023 Under-15 Women’s One-Day Cup brought her into DC’s radar.

Deeya also finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy with 298 runs at an average of 59.5. She continued her good form in the inter-zonal T20 competition, finishing with 151 runs at a strike rate of 149.5.

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Training, Challenges, and Family Support

DC’s CricViz analysts praised Deeya’s fearless intent, range of shots, and calm approach. They felt she would be an ideal backup for DC’s Indian batters and that playing with Shafali would help her grow further.

Rakesh, a former Delhi Under-19 cricketer, shared how Deeya first showed interest in cricket when the family lived in Pune in 2015–16. Even after moving to Gurugram during the pandemic, Deeya’s passion did not fade. Rakesh often threw balls to her in a nearby ground to keep her practice going.

The sport’s financial demands were challenging, but the family managed. Deeya’s mother, Pinky, balanced her job, home responsibilities, and their younger daughter’s schooling, while still supporting Deeya’s training. Deeya now trains at Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club with support from the Haryana Cricket Association.

Coach Sanjay Negi worked on strengthening her basics in 2023 and praised her strong mindset. Even during tough phases, she stayed focused and kept improving.

Deeya also faced fitness issues and a ligament injury. Sports nutritionist Rashmi Cherian helped improve her diet and recovery. Her fitness levels rose, and her performance improved. Her diet is now managed carefully depending on her training schedule.

Rakesh said the family stayed committed even during uncertain times, while Rashmi praised their dedication during Deeya’s injury phase.

As Deeya prepares for the 2026 WPL season and aims for the 2027 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, her parents only hope she enjoys the game. Rakesh said, “I want her to enjoy her journey. If she keeps learning and enjoying, she will do well—and we hope she will play for India one day.”