At just 17, Shabnam Shakil continues to carve her name in the history books, becoming a two-time ICC U19 Women’s World Cup champion with India. The young pace sensation, who played a crucial role in India’s successful title defense in Malaysia, has now rejoined Gujarat Giants ahead of the much-anticipated Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 season.
Shabnam’s arrival at the Gujarat Giants camp on February 7 was nothing short of grand. Her teammates and head coach Michael Klinger welcomed her with a well-planned reception, giving her a special guard of honor to celebrate her recent triumph on the global stage. The young pacer’s return adds firepower to the Giants’ pace attack as they gear up for an electrifying season ahead.
Shabnam’s impact in India’s U19 World Cup campaign was undeniable. In the high-pressure final against South Africa in Kuala Lumpur, she provided the crucial breakthrough by dismissing the dangerous Jemma Botha (16 off 14), shifting the momentum in India’s favor.
Throughout the tournament, she consistently delivered economical spells, proving to be a reliable asset for her side. Her performances included, 0/5 (2) against West Indies, 0/8 (2) against Malaysia, 2/9 (4) against Sri Lanka, 1/7 (2) against Bangladesh, 0/13 (2) against Scotland, 0/20 (4) against England (Semi-final) and 1/7 (2) against South Africa (Final).
With her precision and ability to contain runs in crucial moments, she played a pivotal role in India’s victorious campaign.
Having been mentored by cricketing stalwarts Mithali Raj and Nooshin Al Khadeer at Gujarat Giants, Shabnam has steadily evolved as a formidable pace bowler. Her journey in the WPL began with a historic feat—becoming the youngest player to feature in the tournament at just 16.
In her short yet impactful WPL career, she has played four matches, claiming four wickets, with the best of 3/11. That spell, which came against UP Warriorz, saw her dismiss global stars like Australia’s skipper Alyssa Healy, Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu, and India’s U19 World Cup-winning hero Shweta Sehrawat. Her fiery bowling helped Gujarat Giants clinch a thrilling 8-run victory in that encounter.
The excitement around Gujarat Giants is at an all-time high as they prepare to play their first-ever match in front of their home crowd.
The WPL 2025 season opener on February 14 will see the Giants lock horns with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara. The stage is set for an electrifying clash, with fans eagerly waiting to see their team in action.
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