'I always think about how much I can contribute to the team' - Deepti Sharma reflects on career-best performance in third ODI

India Women completed a clean sweep of West Indies Women in the three-match ODI series in Vadodara by winning the third game comfortably by five wickets with 130 deliveries to spare. This was the first time the hosts batted second in the recently-concluded ODI series.

Star all-rounder, Deepti Sharma, impressed with an all-round display - first with the ball, then with the bat. She registered career-best figures of 6/31, before playing an unbeaten 48-ball 39-run knock to guide the team across the line. She reflected on the advice provided by bowling coach, Aavishkar Salvi.

"I have been doing a lot of hard work. My focus is to take as many wickets as possible and make as many runs as possible for the team. That has always backed me. Yesterday's practice session helped me a lot. I spoke to bowling coach, Aavishkar Salvi sir as to how I can improve my bowling. He asked me to focus on getting more turn and how much help we are getting from the wicket. That helped me a lot," stated Deepti, as quoted by News18.

She also emphasized on her natural instinct of taking on hurdles in a head-on fashion. 

"As an all-rounder, I always think about how much I can contribute to the team. When you win 3-0, there is always a good feeling. I like challenges. Whenever I face tough situations, I always like to step up for the team," she noted.

Also Read: Twitter Reactions: Renuka Singh, Deepti Sharma lead India Women to clean sweep win over West Indies Women in third ODI

I like to play this role as an all-rounder: Deepti

Deepti went on to speak about the 56-run fifth-wicket partnership stitched between herself and Jemimah Rodrigues.

"You don't always get into crunch situations as a player, but I like to play this role as an all-rounder. Today, I backed myself to put on a crucial partnership with Jemi (Jemimah Rodrigues) so that we could get closer to our total," added Deepti.

Notably, Deepti went past Ekta Bisht's record of securing the most five-wicket hauls in women's ODIs; the most-recent one being her third in the format.