Deepti Sharma Opts Out of The Hundred 2025 Amid Heavy Workload; Knott Named Replacement

Deepti Sharma Withdraws from The Hundred, Citing Workload Concerns

Deepti Sharma, the Indian all-rounder, has decided to pull out of The Hundred 2025 to manage her workload. Charli Knott from Australia will replace her in the London Spirit squad.

Deepti Sharma was the MVP in 2024 © Getty

Deepti, who played a crucial role in leading Spirit to victory in the 2024 edition's final, is currently in England for India's ongoing white-ball series. Her decision to withdraw comes in light of a demanding international schedule leading up to the ODI World Cup, which will be held in India during September and November. Before the World Cup, India is scheduled to host the reigning champions, Australia, for a three-match preparatory series in early September.

The London Spirit franchise acknowledged Deepti's contribution: "Deepti will forever hold a special place in Spirit history, thanks to her iconic moment of hitting the ball over long-on for six, securing our first The Hundred title last summer. She excelled with both bat and ball throughout the tournament and was the highest-ranked Spirit player in the MVP standings. We hope to welcome her back to Lord's in future years."

Knott, aged 22, brings valuable experience from her 59 matches with the Brisbane Heat in the Women's Big Bash League. She also represented the Southern Brave franchise in The Hundred last year. With Grace Harris and Georgia Redmayne already on the Spirit roster, Knott becomes the third Australian to join the team this year.

"I'm eager to join the London Spirit this year," Knott stated. "After experiencing the excitement of The Hundred during my brief stint last year, I'm looking forward to playing again this year. It's a fantastic opportunity to play with and against some of the world's best cricketers at the Home of Cricket."