From Dharavi To WPL Stardom: Simran Shaikh's 'Apna Time Aa Gaya' Moment

Cricket all-rounder Simran Shaikh, hailing from Mumbai's Dharavi, scripted history at the Women’s Premier League or WPL 2025 auction when she became the most expensive player, fetching a staggering Rs 1.9 crore. She was picked up by the Gujarat Giants this season.

The cricketer's journey from Dharavi to WPL stardom is unique, as it screams 'apna time aa gaya'.

Simran was born on Jan. 12, 2002 in Mumbai. Raised in a cramped 10x16 ft room in Dharavi, she is the daughter of Zahid Shaikh, an electrician and once a talented tennis ball cricketer himself. Poverty forced Zahid to abandon the game, but his daughter, however, carried the dream forward.

"As I watched the auction, I prayed that a team would pick me. As the bid went up, I felt very happy," Simran told NDTV.

Her father proudly shared with NDTV, "Our family wants to see Simran wearing 'blue' jersey, playing for India. We want her to make the country proud and Dharavi proud."

Simran’s story is also about breaking gender stereotypes. Even as some said that cricket is for boys and questioned why a girl was pursuing her passion for the game, Simran and her parents paid no heed. And in December 2024, their dreams took flight when Gujarat Giants made the winning bid.

Behind her success are unsung heroes, and one such hero in Simran's life is "Pushpa ma’am"— a school teacher who first recognised her talent. The other heroes are kind-hearted sports shop owners who gave her quality cricket gear at discounted prices.

"I'm happy and I believe that I deserve this money," she said, reflecting on her Rs 1.9 crore price tag—an astonishing leap from her base price of Rs 10 lakh.

Simran's story proves that the gullys of Dharavi are full of talent. From business and manufacturing to music, dance, cricket and academics, Dharavikars have excelled in every field.