Latest news with #RenukaSinghThakur
Hans India
a day ago
- Sport
- Hans India
Women's ODI WC squad: Renuka picked, Shafali dropped
Fit-again pacer Renuka Singh Thakur was on Tuesday included in India's squad for the Women's ODI World Cup at home along with top-order batter Pratika Rawal but the big-hitting Shafali Verma was left out. The squad will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana, who was also present at the selection meeting here at the BCCI headquarters, as her deputy in the ICC event which begins on September 30. The selectors also announced the squad for the three ODIs against Australia which precedes the World Cup with only one change in both the sides. The series begins on September 14. Rawal, who has done exceptionally well in 14 ODIs, was chosen ahead of hard-hitting opener Shafali as the latter was excluded from both, with chairperson of selectors Neetu David saying the right-hander remains in their focus. 'Shafali played the Australia A series. She's in the system, it is not like that she's not. We've got our eyes on her. Hope she plays a lot more and garners experience, it'll help serve India in the 50-overs format in the future. We want a long career from Shafali,' Neetu said. All-rounder Amanjot Kaur has been given additional time to recover from her unspecified injury as she remains at the Centre of Excellence ahead of the World Cup, and in her place Sayali Satghare was named in the squad to face Australia as the solitary change in the two squads. 'She's one of the important players, she's at (the) COE, working on a few small niggles. We've rested her for the Australia series so that she can fully be available for the World Cup,' skipper Harmanpreet said. Renuka has been out of action since March and missed the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka followed by the tour of England, but the right-arm pacer is back in the side to lead the attack. 'Renuka has been a precious player for us. She had (some) niggles and been out of the game, but is now available. She is (one of) our main players. This is a main event and it is great that she is a part of the team,' Neetu said. Besides Renuka, India have the young seamer Kranti Goud and Arundhati Reddy in the pace attack, which could also feature Amanjot. India Women's squads: For World Cup: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana. For ODIs against Australia: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Sneh Rana.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
ICC Women's ODI World Cup: Fit-again Renuka returns, Shafali overlooked
New Delhi: No surprises, no gambles. Chief selector Neetu David and Co. resisted the temptation to tinker, announcing a World Cup squad that mirrors the one from the recent triumphant ODI series against England. Renuka Singh Thakur will return to the Indian ODI set-up for the first time since her stress fracture in December 2024. (BCCI) For coach Amol Muzumdar, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her deputy Smriti Mandhana, there will be comfort in the familiarity. The Indian squad is one they know best, a reflection of the core that had been fine-tuned over the past year. Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur's return to fitness and the ODI squad is crucial while a decision with great clarity was made regarding opener Shafali Verma. Shafali, over the past year, had been knocking on the door with brilliant performances in the domestic circuit after her lean patch with the Indian team. She did return to the fold but it seems like the selection committee was not convinced to lock her in just yet. Pratika Rawal, who has scored a whopping 703 runs at an average of 54.07 since her ODI debut in December last year, has done pretty much everything right to seal the opener's spot alongside Smriti Mandhana and it was only fair that they stuck to Muzumdar's word about prioritising her. Stability and consistency over explosiveness was what the selectors sought. 'Shafali played the Australia A series. She's in the system, (it's) not like she's not,' David said of the Haryana batter's exclusion in the press conference. 'We've got our eyes on her. Hope she plays a lot more and garners experience, it'll help serve India in the 50-overs format.' While the Indian batting fared well against England and the tri-series against South Africa and Sri Lanka earlier, the bowling needed a spur. Now, India's spin attack, comprising Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav and N Sree Charani has it all – variety, experience and novelty. 'Spinners have always done well for the team even when we played in England, which is why we kept (most of them) in the playing XI,' said Harmanpreet. However, the pace bowling department needed a shot in the arm. Renuka Singh Thakur, India's pace spearhead, had been out of action due to a stress fracture she sustained in December last year. She was back to her old self in WPL in March but did not play any India matches since then. In her absence, many pacers were tested and rotated across both white-ball formats and some stood up to fill the void but Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud and Amanjot Kaur made lasting impressions. Expectedly, each of them are rewarded with a spot in the World Cup team and with fit-again Renuka returning to the squad, India have their missing spur. 'Renuka has been a precious player for us. She had (some) niggles and was out of the game, but is now available. She is (one of) our main players. This is the main event and it is great that she is a part of the team,' David said. Seam-bowling all-rounders are a luxury in cricket and especially in the Indian women's cricket team. When Amanjot impressed in the Women's Premier League and Indian colours both, it was clear that she would be treated like she is precious. Although she will not feature against Australia in the ODI series – the last bilateral assignment before the World Cup – due to a 'few small niggles', she is expected to be a key player for India. It also helps that she has the backing of captain Harmanpreet. While there seems to be comfort in the stability that seniors such as Mandhana, Harmanpreet, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti, Richa Ghosh, Renuka and Rana have to offer, there is also a sense of excitement around what newcomers Rawal, Amanjot, Sree Charani and Kranti have to offer. 'This squad has experience but also a lot of young blood. They are also enthusiastic. Amanjot being one of them. I am happy for her and have high expectations,' former India captain Anjum Chopra told HT. 'Some performances on the ground are down to an individual's exuberance. Kranti has it, Shree Charani has the excitement. It was their first time in England and you could see that they were thinking, 'Oh I am in England, I must perform'.' All eyes will now be on the team to validate the trust that was placed in continuity and a safe route rather than a risky adventure.
Int'l Cricket Council
28-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Mandhana views England series as prep for the T20 World Cup
Being one of the most experienced members of the Indian setup, Smriti Mandhana expressed her excitement about the new-look pace attack set to feature against England. With regulars Renuka Singh Thakur, Pooja Vastrakar, and Titas Sadhu ruled out due to injury, the attack will be led by Arundathi Reddy. The responsibility of stepping up falls on Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, and Sayali Satghare, who will be eager to make their mark and fill some big shoes in the upcoming series. "(We have) a new look pace-bowling unit because unfortunately, there are a few injuries which had happened over the last four to five months, but (it is) really exciting, I mean (the) WPL has been good in terms of finding new people and of course, the domestic system as well. "The amount of matches the girls play nowadays - all these girls have a rich experience in the domestic format, so I'm really excited to see them.'
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ecclestone stars as UP Warriorz win first WPL super over
Sophie Ecclestone starred with bat and ball as UP Warriorz beat Royal Challengers Bangalore from the first super over in the Women's Premier League. Ecclestone successfully defended just nine from her deciding over, having previously hit 33 from 19 balls to tie the match initially. Warriorz were struggling in pursuit of 181 for victory, but with needed 18 from the final over with just one wicket remaining, Ecclestone hit Renuka Singh Thakur for two sixes and a four before she was run out from the final ball to force the super over. Australia's Kim Garth conceded 8-1 from RCB's sole over but was eclipsed by Ecclestone, who only went for four. In RCB's 180-6, Ellyse Perry continued her fine form with an unbeaten 90 from 56 balls to take her tournament tally to 235 runs from just four Australian all-rounder hit nine fours and three sixes in her knock and added 94 for the second wicket with England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who made a 41-ball champions RCB remain top of the table while UP Warriorz climb to third with back-to-back wins.
