Karnataka allrounder Uma Kashvi made history at the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction after Delhi Capitals signed her for INR 10 lakh. At 15 years and 202 days old, Kashvi Kandikuppa, popularly known as Uma Kashvi, became the youngest player ever purchased at a WPL auction, breaking the previous record held by Deeya Yadav.
Born on April 9, 2011, Kashvi achieved the milestone during the auction held on October 28, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt in Kochi. Deeya Yadav had previously held the record after being selected at the age of 16.
The right-handed batter and right-arm off-spinner has already established an impressive record in Karnataka’s domestic age-group competitions. Her achievements include multiple centuries, strong bowling performances and leadership roles, making her one of the promising young players to attract attention ahead of the 2027 WPL season.
Who Is Uma Kashvi? Karnataka Allrounder’s Early Cricket Journey
Kashvi began playing cricket at approximately seven and a half years old, joining an academy near her home in Karnataka. Her progress was rapid, and she soon started competing in local tournaments against players considerably older than herself.
At nine, she received the Young Talent Award at the India Nippon Cup, where she also had the opportunity to share a dressing room with established Indian cricketers Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Shreyanka Patil. The experience provided early exposure to senior-level cricket and helped shape her development.
Her coach, Arjun Dev, recalled recognising her potential when she was still in the early stages of her cricketing journey.
“I think we knew she was special from a very young age. When she was eight or nine, she was already playing in local tournaments with senior players, and everyone knew she had extraordinary talent.”
Kashvi continued to develop her batting skills and produced an unbeaten 217 in a junior club-level inter-school tournament in Bengaluru at the age of 12. The innings was an early indication of her ability to build substantial scores while maintaining an attacking approach.
She subsequently captained Karnataka Under-15 and led Bengaluru Blasters in the Maharani Trophy, Karnataka’s women’s T20 competition. During the 2025 edition, she scored 48 from 42 deliveries against Mysore Warriors, adding another notable performance to her domestic record.
Uma Kashvi Scores 516 Runs in Under-15 One-Day Trophy
Kashvi’s performances during the 2025–26 Women’s Under-15 One-Day Trophy further strengthened her reputation as an emerging batting talent. She finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 516 runs at an average of 172, registering three centuries and one half-century.
One of her most impressive innings came on January 10, 2026, when she scored an unbeaten 158 from just 66 deliveries against Manipur at the Aditya Academy Ground in Kolkata. Her innings included 23 fours and seven sixes, helping Karnataka post 321 for 5 in 35 overs.
Karnataka went on to secure a commanding 275-run victory, with Kashvi’s aggressive batting playing a central role in the result. Her ability to score quickly while converting starts into major innings was evident throughout the tournament.
The 516-run campaign, combined with her earlier unbeaten 217, demonstrated her consistency across junior competitions and contributed to the growing recognition she received within Indian domestic cricket.
Kashvi Impresses for India Under-19 and Karnataka
Alongside her batting achievements, Kashvi has demonstrated her potential as an off-spinner. Representing India Under-19 against Sri Lanka, she claimed four wickets across three T20 matches and two wickets in two one-day fixtures.
Her performances at the international age-group level provided valuable experience against different opposition and helped her continue developing as an allrounder.
Kashvi also represented Karnataka in domestic Under-19 competitions, with the team reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s Under-19 One-Day Trophy.
On October 22, 2026, she produced another important performance during the Karnataka Under-19 T20 Trophy quarter-final against Vidarbha. Kashvi took three wickets for 18 runs from four overs and contributed 11 from 13 deliveries with the bat.
Karnataka successfully defended 140 for 7 to secure a narrow six-run victory, with Kashvi earning the Player of the Match award for her bowling contribution.
The performance came just six days before the WPL auction and provided another example of her ability to influence matches with both bat and ball.
Coach Arjun Dev Praises Kashvi’s Fielding and Game Awareness
While Kashvi’s batting and bowling performances have attracted attention, coach Arjun Dev believes her fielding ability and understanding of match situations are equally important strengths.
Dev has highlighted her capacity to read the game quickly and make decisions under pressure, qualities that could help her adjust as she progresses towards higher levels of competition.
“She’s a gun fielder to start with. She’s one of the better fielders around, and she knows how to win games at the lower levels. Obviously, the level of competition will be different, but as I said, she understands the game quickly, and I’m sure she’ll be able to adapt to the pace of the game at that level as well,” Arjun said.
The coach has also praised Kashvi’s maturity and awareness of her abilities, particularly considering her age. Her experience captaining Karnataka Under-15 and Bengaluru Blasters has provided opportunities to develop leadership skills alongside her technical game.
Although the WPL presents a significantly different level of competition, her background in domestic tournaments and international age-group cricket has given her a foundation for continued development.
Will Uma Kashvi Play for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2027?
Despite securing a contract with Delhi Capitals, Kashvi’s availability for the WPL 2027 season remains uncertain because of her involvement with India’s Under-19 World Cup setup.
The Under-19 tournament is scheduled to take place in Bangladesh and Nepal, and its dates could overlap with the WPL. As a result, Kashvi may be unable to join Delhi Capitals for some or all of the competition.
Her coach acknowledged that the auction signing had come as a surprise, particularly because of her existing international commitments.
“I think it came as a surprise to everybody. She most likely won’t be available, as she’s part of the Under-19 World Cup setup. But it’s always good to have a pleasant surprise like that,” Arjun told India Today.
While her immediate participation is uncertain, the Delhi Capitals contract represents an important step in Kashvi’s development. It also provides recognition for the performances she has produced across domestic and international age-group cricket.
Her next opportunities will depend on the Under-19 schedule, her availability and her continued progress as a player.
Delhi Capitals Signing Marks Major Milestone for Uma Kashvi
Kashvi’s selection at the WPL 2027 auction represents another significant achievement in a career that has already featured several notable performances.
By the age of 15, she had scored an unbeaten 217 in junior cricket, topped the Women’s Under-15 One-Day Trophy batting charts with 516 runs at an average of 172 and produced an unbeaten 158 from 66 balls against Manipur.
Her bowling contributions have also been important, including four wickets in three T20 matches for India Under-19 against Sri Lanka and a three-wicket performance against Vidarbha that earned her the Player of the Match award.
These achievements demonstrate why Delhi Capitals identified her as a promising addition to their squad, even with uncertainty surrounding her availability for the upcoming season.
