The 2022 Women’s T20 Challenge is just around the corner as the tournament will kick start from May 23 in Pune. The 16-member squads of all the three participating teams have been announced. Out of the 48 players, 12 are overseas, 13 are uncapped India players and 23 are players from India who have played international cricket.
The selection of 13 uncapped players was mainly done on the basis of their performance in the recently concluded senior women’s T20 league. Though the selectors and the concerned committees have done a good job in picking up the domestic talent, there are still five players who could have possibly made it to the Women’s T20 Challenge this year.
Shikha Pandey:
This right arm seamer and right handed batter has been a regular part of the Indian team since her international debut in 2014. However she was last seen at the international level in October 2021. She was not a part of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022 that was played in New Zealand. Recently she captained Goa in senior women’s T20 league, a domestic competition in India. She scored 223 runs and picked up four wickets in six matches. Despite having a good run, she was ignored for the Women’s T20 Challenge. In the past, she was a part of Velocity in the Women’s T20 Challenge.
Dayalan Hemalatha:
She was the fourth highest run getter in the senior women’s T20 league with 272 runs in eight matches, including three half centuries. This right handed batter who has featured in seven ODIs and as many T20Is for India between 2018 and 2021 was the leading run scorer for Railways in the domestic T20 competition. She has played Women’s T20 Challenge for Trailblazers in the past.
Tejal Hasabnis:
The prolific right handed batter from Maharashtra was the sixth highest run getter in the senior women’s T20 league and leading run scorer for her state team. She mustered 258 runs in eight matches, including two half-centuries. She had a healthy strike rate of 115.17 and averaged 51.60 in the competition. In 2021, she also featured in the Challenger Trophy.
Poonam Khemnar:
The leg spinner from Maharashtra who played for Nagaland in the senior women’s T20 league completed the competition with 10 wickets in seven matches. She was among the top 10 wicket-takers and the most successful bowler for her state team. Apart from her bowling, she is more than a handy middle order batter. She scored 172 runs in six innings, including one half century.
Swagatika Rath:
This talented all-rounder from Railways was impressive with both bat and ball in the senior women’s T20 league. The right handed batter scored 138 runs in six innings, including one half century. Bowling right arm off spin she scalped 10 wickets in eight matches. She has also played international cricket for India between 2013 and 2014 as she featured in three ODIs and two T20Is.
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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.