In order to manage her workload, Deepti Sharma, who famously hit a straight six in last year’s Lord’s final to secure London Spirit’s first Hundred title, has withdrawn from the 2025 season. Due to a hectic recent itinerary, the Indian all-rounder has chosen to take a brief rest while on tour in England.
Deepti Sharma has decided to take a break from her £36,000 contract in order to concentrate on recuperation and preparation for the 50-over World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in India later this year. Charli Knott, an all-rounder from Australia, has taken her place. This season, London Spirit will undergo a number of changes on and off the pitch.
The Hundred has no Indian players under contract this season as a result of Deepti Sharma withdrawal.
Since Heather Knight is out with an injury, Charlie Dean will be the team’s leader. Chris Liddle takes Ashley Noffke’s position as head coach, and Grace Harris has replaced Meg Lanning.
Due to workload management, a number of Indian women cricket players were either undrafted or made unavailable, and the BCCI does not issue No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to active male players for international leagues.
David Willey and Ashleigh Gardner will captain the Trent Rockets.
The Trent Rockets have announced that Ashleigh Gardner will lead the women’s team this season, among other league-wide announcements. After taking over as England’s captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt resigned from the position last month in order to lighten her workload. Gardner thanked Sciver-Brunt and said it was a pleasure to follow him.
Lewis Gregory, who went to Manchester Originals after being released, will be replaced as captain of the men’s team by David Willey. Willey, a £200,000 draft pick, has a wealth of short-format leadership experience, having captained the Northern Superchargers, Northamptonshire, and Yorkshire. Welsh Fire was where he spent the previous two seasons.
Next week, it is anticipated that each Hundred team will confirm four wildcard signings: two for the men’s squad and two for the women’s. Based on results in the current T20 Blast, these additions will be made.
Prior to the wildcard draft, Birmingham Phoenix has already taken action by signing Freddie McCann of Nottinghamshire to replace Derbyshire seamer Harry Moore, who is sidelined due to a back stress fracture.
Prior to the 2026 edition, the ECB will transfer operational authority for the eight teams to their host counties and new private partners during the Hundred, which will take place from August 5 to August 31.
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