Today marks a lucky day for Indian Cricket. On this day, 6 years apart – two little girls were born into lower-middle-class families from Agra, Uttar Pradesh. These two girls would go on to represent India at the biggest stage, and both would be conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award in the coming years. We, the team of Female Cricket, wish Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma, the happiest of birthdays. May they always do us and themselves proud! On Deepti and Poonam’s Birthday, let’s take a brief look at their incredible journey.
Deepti Sharma, who turns 23 years today, probably got the best birthday gift just a few days back, when the Sports Ministry honored her with the Arjuna Award, along with the fast-bowling veteran, Ishant Sharma. This, in itself, is reflective of her short yet extremely illustrious career to bag such a prestigious award before her 23rd birthday.
Join us in Wishing a very Happy Birthday to India’s current most promising all-rounder 🎂
🏆 54 ODIs, 48 T20Is
🏆 Ranked 4th in the top all-rounders in the ICC Ranking
🏆 3rd Highest ODI Individual Scorer (188 Runs)
🏆 6/20 – Best bowling ODI Figures#HappyBirthday Deepti! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/fLLdcm81aO— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 24, 2020
Deepti made her debut just at the age of 17 against world champions, Australia – a journey that started at the net sessions of her brother, Sumit, at Eklavya Sports Stadium in Agra. In her relatively short career, Deepti has played a vital part in India’s journey to the Finals of World Cup at Lords’ and the T20 WC. In the 54 ODI’s she has donned the Indian Blue, Sharma has scored 1417 runs, backing it up with 64 wickets. Her slower bowling has been exceptional in the shortest format, averaging more than 1 wicket-a-game (53 in 48 T20’s).
Deepti’s senior compatriot, Poonam Yadav, the wily off-spinner from Agra, turns 29 years today. Her journey started like many kids of India, in a flat, much like ones in the railways’ colonies. The pocket-sized dynamite would become one of the privileged few in the Indian women’s setup to don the whites in a Test against England back in 2014. This is just within a year of her debut – exemplifying the immediate impact she made at the international circuit.
Wishing a very Happy 29th Birthday to India’s Leg-Spin sensation – Poonam Yadav 🎂
🏆 1 Test, 46 ODIs, 67 T20Is
🏆 170 International Wickets
🏆 7th in ICC’s ODI Bowler Rankings
🏆 7 Times 4-Wicket Hauls in International Cricket#HappyBirthday @poonam_yadav24 pic.twitter.com/1NTBYDjC0g— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) August 24, 2020
Yadav has 72 scalps in her kitty from just 46 ODI’s, and India’s strike bowler in the shortest format with a very economical average of 5.3. 64 matches. She has 64 wickets in 44 encounters to show for her efforts and is ranked 7th and 8th in ODI and T20, respectively.
We wish our Queen’s the happiest year ahead!
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