After Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Meet Uma Kashvi: 15-year-old Karnataka all-rounder becomes youngest player bought in WPL auction

Indian cricket has found another teenage prospect to watch, with Karnataka’s Uma Kashvi making history at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction in Kochi on 28 October.Delhi Capitals signed the 15-year-old for Rs 10 crore, making her the youngest player ever to be bought in the WPL auction. At 15 years and 202 days, Kashvi broke the previous record held by Deeyya Yadav, who was 16 when she was bought at last year’s auction.While Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has grabbed attention with his rise in men’s cricket, Kashvi is starting to make his mark in the women’s game. A right-arm off-spinner who can contribute with the bat in the middle order, she came through the Karnataka age-group system and represented India under-19 against Sri Lanka in 2026.However, her WPL debut could be delayed as she is part of India’s U-19 World Cup plans. To be held in Bangladesh and Nepal, the tournament overlaps with the WPL.

From junior double centuries to age group dominance

Kashvii’s cricketing journey began at the age of around seven-and-a-half when she started training at an academy near her home. Her potential soon showed when, at just 12, the youngster scored an unbeaten 217 in an inter-school tournament at the junior club level in Bengaluru.Her exposure to the wider cricketing world came even earlier. At the age of nine, she received the Young Talent Award at the India Nippon Cup, where she shared the dressing room with Indian internationals Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil.Kashvi has since taken on leadership responsibilities, captaining the Karnataka Under-15 team and leading Bengaluru Blasters in the Maharani Trophy, Karnataka’s women’s T20 competition. In the 2025 tournament, she scored 48 off 42 balls against the Mysore Warriors, gaining experience against senior domestic players.She also featured in the Karnataka U-19 T20 campaign and the side that reached the semifinals of the Women’s Under-19 One-Day Trophy.Her performances earned her an opportunity with India Under-19s against Sri Lanka in June and July 2026. Kashvi took four wickets in three T20 matches and two wickets in two ODIs.

516 runs at an average of 172

Kashvia’s batting credentials were further confirmed during the Women’s Under-15 One-Day Trophy in the 2025–26 season, where she finished as the top scorer.She amassed 516 runs at an average of 172, registering three centuries and a half-century. One of her standout performances came against Manipur on 10 January 2026 when she smashed an unbeaten 158 off just 66 balls, hitting 23 fours and seven sixes.Her innings helped Karnataka post 321/5 in 35 overs at the Aditya Academy Ground in Kolkata. Karnataka won the match by 275 runs.Kashvi has also shown her ability to influence ball games. In the quarter-final of Karnataka’s Under-19 T20 Trophy against Vidarbha on 22 October 2026, she returned figures of 3/18 in four overs. She also scored 11 off 13 balls as Karnataka defended 140/7 to win by six runs. Her all-round contribution earned her the Player of the Match award.

Delhi Capitals see long-term potential

Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty said the franchise had been eyeing Kashvi for some time, with its scouting network playing a key role in the decision to sign him.“She’s been on our radar for a while now. Our scouts have been watching her closely and sharing incredible feedback, and I’ve also seen her play. We believe she could become an absolute superstar in the future,” said Batty.Batty also made it clear that the franchise views signing the teenager as a long-term investment rather than expecting immediate results.“It’s a lot of work at 15 years old and we don’t expect it to be the finished article yet. It’s a long-term project for the Delhi Capitals.”He added that training alongside experienced players and working with the franchise’s coaching staff could help accelerate her development.“It’s a great opportunity for her to be part of this set-up, learning from our best coaches and working alongside international stars. Hopefully she’ll learn a lot from the players around her. This is the first step on a path that we hope will lead to Indian recognition in the future and we’re excited to see her progress,” continued Batty.

Delhi Capitals completes 17-man squad

Delhi Capitals picked up four players in the Kochi auction and added Kashvi, explosive Indian batsman Kiran Navgire, Indian all-rounder Nazma Khan and Scottish spinner Kirstie Gordon to the core of 13 retained players.Navgire was their biggest acquisition at Rs 75 crore while Kashvi, Khan and Gordon were bought for Rs 10 crore each. The franchise spent Rs 1.05 crore in the auction, taking the team’s total expenditure to Rs 14.95 crore, including Rs 13.9 crore on retention.For Kashvi, the move marks an important step in a journey that has already yielded age-group records, domestic success and international junior cricket. Delhi Capitals will now give her the opportunity to learn from established players as she continues to develop her game.