The Women’s T20 Challenge is just a week away and the 16-member squads for three teams that will feature in the competition were announced on May 16. Supernovas, Trailblazers, and Velocity will be the three participating teams led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma respectively. The teams will see a mix of overseas players, India players who have played international cricket, and uncapped Indian players.
In this article, we will look at the 13 uncapped India players: Chandu V, Muskan Malik, Rashi Kanojia, Priyanka Priyadarshini, Saika Ishaque, Sujata Mallik, Shraddha Pokharkar, Kiran Navgire, Keerthi James, Maya Sonawane, Aarati Kedar, Shivali Shinde, Pranavi Chandra
Supernovas: Chandu V, Muskan Malik, Rashi Kanojia
Trailblazers: Priyanka Priyadarshini, Saika Ishaque, Sujata Mallik, Shraddha Pokharkar
Velocity: Kiran Navgire, Keerthi James, Maya Sonawane, Aarati Kedar, Shivali Shinde, Pranavi Chandra
Player profile of uncapped players
Chandu V:
She is a right arm off-spinner from Karnataka. She is an established domestic cricketer and has also played Challenger Trophy in 2021. In the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league, she picked up eight wickets in five matches and was the leading wicket-taker for her side. She had an economy rate of under seven runs per over in the competition. She can also bowl with the new ball.
Muskan Malik:
She is a right-handed top order batter from Uttar Pradesh, who also leads her stateside. In the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league, she scored 170 runs in five matches, including one half-century. She also had a decent strike rate of 102 in the tournament. In the past, she has been a part of Supernovas squad in the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Rashi Kanojia:
With eight wickets in five matches in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league, this left arm seamer from Uttar Pradesh was the leading wicket-taker for her team. In 2021, she was selected for the India Women’s cricket camp.
Priyanka Priyadarshini:
She was the joint highest wicket-taker for her state team Odisha and second highest wicket-taker overall in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league. The right arm off spinner claimed 11 wickets in seven matches, including one four wicket haul, at a miserly economy of under five runs per over. She was used as the first change bowler in the competition.
Saika Ishaque:
She is a left arm spinner from Bengal. In 2021, she featured in the Challenger Trophy. In the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league, she picked up three wickets in five matches and with the bat, the southpaw scored 28 runs in two innings, including the best of 22 not out.
Sujata Mallik:
This right arm opening quick bowler from Odisha was the joint leading wicket-taker for her state and second highest wicket-taker overall in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league. She claimed 11 wickets in seven matches, including one four wicket haul. She bowled at an economy rate of under six runs per over.
Shraddha Pokharkar:
She is a left arm seamer from Maharashtra, who is a good new ball bowler. In the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league, she opened the bowling for her stateside and struck with nine wickets in eight matches. She bowled at an economy rate of just under six and a half runs per over.
Kiran Navgire:
She is an aggressive right handed opening batter from Maharashtra, who played for Nagaland in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league. She completed the tournament with 525 runs in seven matches, including one century and four half-centuries. Her best score of 162 not out against Arunachal Pradesh in the opening game of the tournament was a record in the Indian domestic cricket across men and women.
Keerthi James:
She is a right arm off spinner from Kerala who picked up eight wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of under five and a half runs per over, in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league. In 2021, she was a part of the Challenger Trophy.
Maya Sonawane:
This wily right arm leg spinner from Maharashtra was the only bowler in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league to scalp two four wicket hauls. She bagged 11 wickets in eight matches and was the second leading wicket-taker for her state side as well as the second highest overall. She bowled at an economy rate of just over six runs per over. She has also played in the Challenger Trophy in 2021.
Aarati Kedar:
She was the leading wicket-taker in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 tournament. The left arm spinner from Maharashtra scalped 13 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of under five runs per over. She can open the bowling and is a good new ball bowler.
Shivali Shinde:
She is a wicket-keefper and right handed opening batter from Maharashtra. She mustered 211 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of more than 100. She completed the tournament as the third highest run getter for her stateside. In 2021, she was a part of the Challenger Trophy.
Pranavi Chandra:
She is a right arm off spinner from Hyderabad, who can open the bowling as well. In the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league, she picked up one wicket in five matches. In the past she had captained Hyderabad U19 team.
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I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
