The India Women’s National Cricket Team AKA the ‘Women in Blue‘ are a force to reckon with.
Our fifteen-member squad will soon be on a journey to make India proud. Their performance will be a testament to the fact that cricket is not just a men’s sport.
The Women’s Cricket Association of India was formed in 1973. Since then, our blue warriors have been growing and glowing alongside the Indian national cricket team (men).
Let’s dive into some details and have a closer look at these players and their achievements over the years.
Harmanpreet Kaur
The Captain of India women’s national cricket team, Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar is an all-rounder batter, known for her powerful no-break right-handed batting. Due to her stunning performance at domestic tournaments, Harmanpreet found herself playing for the country in India’s 2009 World T20 squad.
The captain hailing from Punjab has multiple acclaims to her name.
She made history as the first Indian cricketer, male or female, to be recruited by an overseas T20 league, with three WBBL teams eager to sign the dynamic middle-order batter.
Ultimately, she joined the inaugural champions, Sydney Thunder, where her outstanding all-round performance earned her the franchise’s Player of the Tournament award in her debut season.
Just a few months later, as the T20 captain, she became the first Indian to join Surrey Stars for the second edition of the ECB’s Women’s Cricket League.
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana from Mumbai, Maharashtra is the Vice-captain of India women’s national cricket team and a left-handed opening batter.
Mandhana is one of the most consistent performers on the team. In 2018 she was awarded the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year and in 2022, she was awarded the Women’s Cricketer of the Year award by the International Cricket Council.
Her first breakthrough came in October 2013 when she became the first Indian woman to score a double century in a one-day match. Representing Maharashtra against Gujarat, she played a remarkable innings, remaining unbeaten at 224 off just 150 balls in the West Zone Under-19 Tournament at the Alembic Cricket Ground in Vadodara.
During the 2016 Women’s Challenger Trophy, Mandhana delivered consistent performances, scoring three half-centuries for India Red in as many games.
She led her team to victory in the final against India Blue, contributing an unbeaten 62 off 82 balls. With a total of 192 runs, she finished as the tournament’s top scorer.
Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma is a young opening right-handed batter, known for her aggressive style. This warrior in blue comes from Rohtak Haryana.
Shafali has many a record to her name. Due to her explosive batting style, she has been compared to Sehwag in terms of technique.
In 2023, she became the first Indian cricketer to register a half-century in the Asian Games, making 67 runs in 39 deliveries, including four impressive fours and five electric sixes.
Jemimah Rodrigues
Jemimah Rodrigues is a talented batter and an important part of the middle order. This multi-skilled sportsperson has also played field hockey for the under-17 Maharashtra team.
In June 2018, she won the Jagmohan Dalmiya Award presented by cricketer MS Dhoni for Best Domestic Junior Women’s Cricketer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at Jharkhand.
Deepti Sharma
Born in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, Deepti Sharma is an all-rounder who contributes with both the bat and the ball.
Deepti made her One Day International debut in 2014.
In 2018, she was ranked 3rd among the top all-rounders in ICC Cricket and had the third-highest individual score by a female cricketer in One Day internationals.
Richa Ghosh
Richa Ghosh is a wicketkeeper-batter, known for her hard-hitting abilities and sharp wicketkeeping skills.
Born on September 28, 2003, in Siliguri, West Bengal, she made her international debut at just 16 during the 2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Richa quickly gained recognition for her fearless approach at the crease, often playing crucial innings in the lower middle order.
Her ability to score quick runs and adapt to different match situations has made her a key player in India’s T20I and ODI squads.
Pooja Vastrakar
Pooja Vastrkar is a dynamic all-rounder cricketer, handy with both bat and ball.
She is known for her pace bowling and powerful lower-order batting.
Born in Madhya Pradesh, this 24-year-old player made her international debut in 2018 and quickly established herself as a vital player.
Pooja’s ability to swing the ball and deliver crucial breakthroughs with the ball, coupled with her knack for finishing innings with the bat is impressive.
She will represent India as part of the India Women’s National Cricket Team.
Sneh Rana
Sneh Rana is a versatile all-rounder, known for her effective spin bowling and batting.
Born on February 18, 1994, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, she made her international debut in 2014 but truly rose to prominence during India’s 2021 tour of England.
Sneh’s remarkable comeback after a five-year hiatus was highlighted by her match-saving 80 not out in the one-off Test.
Her ability to take crucial wickets and stabilize the innings in challenging situations has been nothing short of brilliant.
Renuka Singh
Renuka Singh Thakur is a promising fast bowler in India Women’s National Cricket Team cricket, recognized for her pace, swing, and accuracy.
Renuka was born on February 1, 1996, in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. She made her international debut in 2021 and quickly became known for her ability to trouble batters with her sharp bowling.
Renuka stands out in limited-overs cricket. She is one of India’s leading pace prospects. Her expertise lies in tight bowling.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Rajeshwari Gayakwad is a skilled left-arm orthodox spinner, known for her consistent wicket-taking ability and economical bowling.
Born on June 1, 1991, in Bijapur, Karnataka, Gayakwad made her international debut in 2014.
Her standout performance came during the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup, where she took a five-wicket haul against New Zealand, helping India reach the semifinals.
She is a part of India Women’s National Cricket Team and will represent India at the T20 World Cup 2024.
Yastika Bhatia
Yastika Bhatia is a left-handed batter and wicketkeeper known for her solid technique and versatility.
This 24-year-old player was born on November 1, 2000, in Vadodara, Gujarat.
She made her international cricket debut in February 2021 at the limited overs matches against South Africa.
Her wicketkeeping abilities led her to become a part of the India Women’s National Cricket Team.
Yashika plays for the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League.
Arundhati Reddy
Arundhati Reddy is a promising pace bowler known for her ability to swing the ball.
Born on October 4, 1997, in Hyderabad, she made her international debut in 2018.
Arundhati’s ability to bowl with pace and maintain tight lines has made her a valuable asset, particularly in the T20 format. She also contributes as a lower-order batter, adding depth to the team’s lineup.
Reddy plays for the Delhi Capitals in the WPL.
Dayalan Hemalatha
Dayalan Hemalatha is an all-rounder player. Her off-spin bowling and reliable batting are effective.
This Chennai player made her international debut in 2018.
With the bat, she can stabilize the innings or accelerate when needed, while her off-spin has proven valuable in breaking partnerships.
Asha Sobhana
Asha Sobhana has commendable leg-spin bowling abilities.
23-year-old Sobhana was born on March 20, 2001, in Kerala.
Her impressive ability to generate turn and deceive batters with her variations has earned her attention and led her to enter the India Women’s National Cricket Team.
Radha Yadav
Radha Yadav is a left-arm spinner known for her effective spin and ability to take crucial wickets.
She was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in the year 2000.
Radha made her domestic debut in 2015 and her international debut in 2018.
She has many acclaims to her name. This young player has played 4 First-class, 13 List A and 16 Women’s Twenty20 matches.
Radha’s spin bowling, her ability to execute well-timed deliveries, and her consistent performances in both T20Is and ODIs highlight her potential.
Journey Towards Excellence
The Women’s Cricket Association (WCA) of India is now controlled by BCCI.
Following the legacy of India’s legendary female batter, Mithali Raj, these fifteen women selected by the Women’s Selection Committee are all set for the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2024.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is just around the corner, scheduled to be held from 3 to 20 October 2024. The United Arab Emirates will be hosting the tournament. A troupe of these talented players will soon fly out.
Let’s hope and wish to see some remarkable performances in the international arena by our blue warriors.
Well, now that you’re freshly enlightened about the brilliance of the India Women’s National Cricket Team, make sure to watch all the matches.
They need to be cheered like we cheer our men in blue!
