Much anticipated, the 9th edition of the Women’s Asia Cup is set to take place in Sri Lanka from July 19th to 28th, 2024. Every team participating in this biggest cricket competition in Asia for women, boasts formidable bowling talents, each with the potential to leave a lasting impact. From seasoned veterans to emerging stars, the competition promises a showcase of skill, strategy, and sheer determination along with some brilliant bowling spells awaiting us. Join us as we delve into the predictions for the highest wicket-takers from each team, exploring the potential game-changers set to make waves in this exciting tournament.
Here is a list of probable highest wicket takers from each team:
Deepti Sharma, India
Deepti Sharma leads India’s bowling attack with her wealth of experience. She emerged as India’s top wicket-taker in T20Is during the 2023 season, securing 11 wickets at an average of 18.27 and an economy rate of 5.24. In the 2024 season, she added 8 more wickets to her tally, maintaining an economy of 5.5. This also makes her India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the overall 2023-24 seasons. Deepti’s recent performances include notable displays against South Africa, Bangladesh, and Australia, taking 3, 5, and 5 wickets respectively. In the WPL 2024, where she claimed 10 wickets with a best of 4/19, these performances make Deepti the front-runner to take the most wickets from a dangerous Indian side.
Nida Dar, Pakistan
Pakistan’s skipper, Nida Dar, is expected to lead from the front as their highest wicket-taker. In the 2024 season, she showcased her bowling skills by taking 10 wickets in 8 innings at an average of 23. Her standout performance included figures of 3/19 against West Indies. Nida’s consistency was evident in the recent T20I series against England and West Indies, where she picked up 5 wickets each.
Nahida Akhter, Bangladesh
Nahida Akhter has been Bangladesh’s mainstay in bowling, leading the charts for Bangladesh with 22 wickets across 2023-2024. Her impressive record includes dismissing 19 batters in the 2023-24 season at an average of 18.84 and an economy rate of 6.1. Notably, she delivered a memorable performance of 5/8 against Pakistan in October last year, sending half of the Pakistan team back to the pavilion in her spell, maintaining an economy of just 2.18. In her last 2 International series, she managed to get 3 wickets against India and 5 against Australia and continues to be a key asset for Bangladesh.
Kavisha Dilhari, Sri Lanka
Kavisha Dilhari has been pivotal for Sri Lanka, emerging as their second-highest wicket-taker with 25 scalps since 2023. From 2023 to 2023-24 season, Kavisha Dilhari was the second highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka, taking 15 wickets in 15 innings, with an average of 18.53. In the 2024 season, she claimed 10 wickets in 8 innings at an average of 14.7. Her best performance of 4/13 against Scotland in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifier in April this year, where she took 4 wickets conceding just 13 runs while maintaining an economy of 4.1, showcases her ability to deliver under pressure, making her a key player for Sri Lanka. She took 8 wickets in 5 matches in that tournament, playing an essential role for her team in the tournament’s victory.
Nattaya Boochatham, Thailand
This 37-year-old seasoned all-rounder from Thailand is our probable highest wicket-taker for Thailand. She holds the record for the most wickets in a calendar year in women’s T20Is when she bagged 40 wickets in 2019. She also has the third-most maiden overs in WT20Is and has scalped 4 wickets in an innings 6 times. From 2023 to 2023-24 season, she was Thailand’s second-highest wicket-taker, taking 38 wickets in 23 innings, with a remarkable average of 6.6 and an economy of just 3.02. This season she took 2 more wickets, making her total tally of wickets since 2023 as 40 wickets in 28 innings maintaining an economy of 3.19. In the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia regional qualifiers, she was the highest wicket-taker of the tournament, claiming 18 wickets in just 6 innings.
Vaishnave Mahesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Vaishnave Mahesh has been UAE’s standout bowler, collecting 52 wickets in 34 innings across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with an average of 10.34 and an economy of 4.54. Second to her was Esha Oza who took 26 wickets, which is exactly half. Her best performance was 4/10 which came in September last year in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia regional qualifiers. She was also the second-highest wicket-taker of that tournament with 15 wickets in 6 innings. In the ACC Women’s Premier Cup in February this year, she was again the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 12 wickets in 6 innings with an average of just 6.33.
Sita Rana Magar, Nepal
Sita Rana Magar shares the mantle of Nepal’s highest wicket-taker with Belbashi, who’s not playing this Asia Cup. She has taken 19 wickets in 18 innings, maintaining an average of 13.42 and an economy of 4.55. Her recent form includes notable performances in the ACC Women’s Premier Cup, taking 7 wickets in 4 innings and maintaining an economy of 4.25, showcasing her ability to deliver crucial breakthroughs for Nepal. She has taken 5 wickets in the last 2 T20Is she has played.
Mahirah Izzati Ismail, Malaysia
Mahirah Izzati Ismail leads Malaysia’s bowling attack by being their highest wicket-taker with 35 wickets in 28 innings from 2023 to 2024, boasting an impressive average of 9.77 and an economy rate of 3.46. Her standout performance of 5/11 against Bahrain in the ACC Premier Cup underscores her capability to dominate matches, making her a key asset for Malaysia. In her 4 overs spell, she took a 5-fer conceding just 11 runs with 1 maiden over. She was also the third-highest wicket-taker of that tournament, taking 9 wickets in 6 innings.
These talented bowlers are set to elevate the competition with their skills and determination, promising an enthralling Women’s Asia Cup where bowling excellence will be at the forefront of every match.