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22-year-old cricket sensation Simran Shaikh, who hails from India's largest slum Dharavi, has her sights set on the Indian national team after hitting a jackpot deal of Rs 1.9 crore in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2025 auction. But the young cricketer has a dream, a dream of meeting her idol and India's batting juggernaut Virat Kohli. Kohli might have been struggling with his form in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy which has drawn a lot of flak, but the batting superstar is still a hero for many budding cricketers.
Despite facing financial hardships and societal pressures that often discourage girls from pursuing sports, Simran's family has been her constant support system. Her father, a wireman, and her mother have stood by her side, enabling her to chase her cricketing dreams.
Simran Shaikh wishes to meet Virat Kohli
Recently Simran expressed her ultimate ambition of representing India at the international level. She will now be representing the Gujarat Giants in the WPL.
“My journey has started now. I want to give my best, work hard. I want one more jersey, which is the India jersey. I will work hard to achieve that dream. I like Virat Kohli a lot. My dream is to meet him," Simran told ANI.
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Simran's love for cricket began in her childhood, playing gully cricket in the narrow lanes of Dharavi. However, her passion was met with resistance from her community. Neighbours often mocked her and questioned her dedication to the sport, urging her to focus on domestic chores instead.
“When I used to play gully cricket as a kid, my neighbours kept saying, ‘Why is a girl playing with boys? Go home and work.’ They taunted my mom and dad, saying I should learn to wash utensils and other household chores. I felt bad, but their words only made me more determined to play cricket and prove myself," Simran added.
Simran's cricketing journey has been a rollercoaster ride. After being bought by the UP Warriorz for Rs 10 lakh in the inaugural WPL season, she struggled to perform, scoring just 29 runs in nine matches. The following year, she went unsold in the auction. However, Simran made a remarkable comeback, showcasing her big-hitting abilities in the T20 Challenger Trophy earlier this year and catching the eye of talent scouts.
Meanwhile, besides, Shaikh, Gujarat Giants signed another big player in West Indies' superstar Deandra Dottin for Rs 1.70 crore in the WPL 2025 auction.
Gujarat Giants' buys in WPL 2025 Auction
Deandra Dottin (WI) - Rs. 1.70 crore
Simran Shaikh (IND) - Rs. 1.90 crore
Danielle Gibson (ENG) - Rs. 30 lakh
Prakashika Naik (IND) - Rs. 10 lakh
Gujarat Giants' full squad for WPL 2025
Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Dayalan Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwer, Phoebe Litchfield, Meghna Singh, Kashvee Gautam, Priya Mishra, Mannat Kashyap, Bharti Fulmali, Sayali Satghare, Deandra Dottin (Rs. 1.70 crore), Simran Shaikh (Rs. 1.90 crore), Danielle Gibson (Rs. 30 lakh), Prakashika Naik (Rs. 10 lakh).
