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2018 is beginning with women’s challenger series and the teams along with their squads have already been declared. There are three (3) teams namely, India Blue, India Red and India Green. Here we bring, the detailed information about all of these in a series of three write-ups; this being the first one.
In this article we are going to know more about India Blue.
Full squad of India BLUE:- Smriti Mandhana (Captain),VR Vanitha, Mona Meshram, Tanushree Sarkar, Tania Bhatia (wicket-keeper), D Hemlatha, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Radha Yadav, Jhulan Goswami, Pooja Vastrakar, Soni Yadav, Neenu Choudhary and Pratyusha C.
Now we shall try to study the potential and experience of the selected squad.
Let’s begin with the team’s captain and I am sure that skipper Smriti Mandhana doesn’t need any introduction. 21-year old left-handed opening batter of the India’s national team, became the latest sensation and heartthrob of cricket lovers during the WWC 2017. Mandhana started her international career in 2014 and expected to have a great and consistent career ahead in the years to come.
Apart from Smriti, batters VR Vanitha and Mona Meshram and bowlers Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami and Soni Yadav are the other players from the Indian National Team.
Bengal team player Tanushree Sarkar plays the role of middle order batter in the team. Apart from playing a significant role in her state team, Sarkar also played as part of India ‘A’ team in 2014.
The responsibility of wicket keeping is vested on Taniya Bhatia who plays from Punjab side in domestic cricket and has earlier played as India Green member. The right hand batter idolizes the great Anjum Chopra and age is just a number for 20 years old hitter.
Next in line is Maharashtrian cricketer Radha Yadav who has great bowling experience in various domestic formats and has been recently selected in India ‘A’ team.
Right arm medium pacer Pooja Vastrakar is a first class cricketer who plays for Madhya Pradesh in domestic cricket. Born on 25th September 1999, this 18-year old has already made her presence being felt after getting selected for India ‘A’ team. Playing for India Blue and will surely be an extended opportunity for the young bowler to groom her skills better.
Young Challuru Prathyusha hails from Karnataka and has played from India Green Women the last year’s Women’s Challenger Trophy. She is having a very impressive economy rate of 2.81 in ODIs and below six in T20s, thus making way to this India Blue team.
Moving on two newcomers of this team:-
1. Dayalan Hemalatha – Born on 29th September 1994, D Hemlatha plays from Tamil Nadu Women. The right-hand batter showed her talent and played some phenomenal and crucial knocks in 2013 and selection in India Blue will boost her confidence and improve her skills.
2. Neenu Choudhary – It has been a great achievement and glory for this Himachal girl. Along with being selected for India Blue team, she has also been included in India ‘A’ recently.
No better opportunity would have striked to these new comers to prove their talent at the national level.
The team’s strength lies in the bowling department with spin being led by Gayakwad and Goswami leading the pace attack. Bowler Soni Yadav, who made her international debut in February 2017 against Sri Lanka will deepen the pace strength.
Next, we shall bring detailed information about Team- India Red Women. Till then, keep reading..
‘Gully’ cricket player and close observer of Indian Cricket team and it’s matches. Straight forward and still socially admirable personality. Strong belief in teamwork and possess high leadership skills.