The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set to witness an exciting new addition as Japan’s national team player, Ahilya Chandel, joins the Delhi Capitals as a net bowler. With a cricketing journey that spans across Japan and Australia, Chandel is eager to make the most of this opportunity to train alongside some of the best players in the world.
Ahilya Chandel’s cricketing roots trace back to her father, who played a crucial role in introducing her to the sport. Speaking about her journey, she shared, “My cricketing journey so far, I have played for Japan and also, I play my cricket way back in Sydney, Australia. I have been playing since I was eight years old.
“Getting into cricket was because of Dad because Dad is Indian, so he passed that on me. When he found out that Japan had a cricket team, he said, “why not give it a go and yeah since 2022, I have represented Japan and now I am here.”
Since making her debut in October 2022, the 22-year-old left-arm bowler picked up 30 wickets from 32 games at an outstanding economy rate of 4.58, becoming Japan’s all-time top wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is. In addition, she has 279 T20I runs. In the 2024 ACC Women’s Premier Cup, Chandel made history by winning Player of the Match after achieving an uncommon double hat-trick against China. She now brings her talent and tenacity to the Delhi Capitals, eager to make an impression, after being inspired by her father to represent Japan internationally.
Having started at a young age, Chandel’s growth as a cricketer has been remarkable. Now, she stands at the doorstep of an incredible learning experience with one of the most competitive WPL franchises.
Being part of the Delhi Capitals camp has already proven beneficial for Chandel, who had the chance to speak with Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues about her bowling. The interaction, according to Chandel, was inspiring and motivating.
“I actually had a conversation with Jemi (Jemimah Rodrigues). I spoke to her about my bowling since I am here as a net bowler and she gave me a lot of encouragement, reassuring me about my skills, which was really nice.”
For a young cricketer, such moments can be game-changing, offering valuable insights and boosting confidence. Training alongside elite players is a golden opportunity for Chandel to assess her own game and refine her skills. She emphasized the importance of challenging herself by bowling to top-class batters.
“It’s a big opportunity to be playing alongside world-class cricketers. It’s also a great experience to develop my own skills and see how far I am or what the gap is between my level and theirs.”
Being a net bowler in a high-intensity environment like the WPL means constantly thinking ahead, something Chandel is keen on mastering.
“When I am bowling to top-class cricketers, I try to think ahead like how they are thinking and stay a step ahead of them.”
Chandel’s journey in India saw her arriving in Delhi before heading to Pune for the Capitals’ pre-season training camp, which kicked off on February 2nd. This preparatory phase was crucial for both the players and the coaching staff as they geared up for the third edition of the WPL.
Expressing his enthusiasm about this collaboration, JCA’s Head of Cricket Operations, Alan Curr, stated: “We are excited about working with an iconic cricketing brand like the Capitals. They are synonymous with success on and off the field and we hope our players and staff can learn from their best practices.”
For Chandel, this experience is not just about personal growth; she is determined to use it to uplift Japan’s cricketing landscape. She spoke about her excitement to absorb knowledge and bring it back to her team.
“It will be amazing to join up with the squad and see how they go about their work. I can’t wait to bring back what I learn to the group in Japan and help our team achieve more success in the future.”
The upcoming WPL season, starting on February 14th, will be a crucial one for Delhi Capitals. Having finished as runners-up in the past two editions, they will be eager to go one step further and claim the title this time. They will kick off their campaign on February 15, against Mumbai Indians in Vadodara.
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