5 incredible records held by Indian women cricketers
Since its inception, the women’s cricket team in India has evolved a lot in terms of game-play, tournaments, and talent. They reached the finals of the world cup in 2017, the finals of the Asia Cup T20 in 2018, the semi-final of the Women’s World T20 also in 2018, and the finals of Women’s World T20 in 2020, but still, the recognition from the audience has always been slow. While cricket is majorly a male-dominated sport, there are many female cricketers, with a few amazing record in their name. Let’s take a look at these feats –
Most runs in ODIs – Mithali Raj
The former Indian captain is arguably the greatest batswoman in the history of women’s cricket. She made her ODI debut on 26th June 1999 as a sixteen-year-old against Ireland and has since played over 200 ODIs. The only woman cricketer to have breached the 6000-run mark in women’s ODIs, Mithali has played 209 ODIs for India. The legendary batswoman has scored 6,888 runs at an outstanding average of 50.64, including 7 centuries and 53 half-centuries.
Most wickets in ODIs – Jhulan Goswami
The former Indian women’s captain is an all-rounder who has been the backbone of the Indian women’s team for over a decade now. She made her ODI debut on 6th January 2002 in an ODI against England. In the 182 ODIs, Goswami has scalped 225 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 3.28 runs per over and holds the record for the most wickets in ODIs. She has 6 four-wicket hauls and 2 five-wicket hauls to her credit.
Biggest 1st wicket partnership – Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut
With their 320-run partnership, in an ODI against Ireland as part of the Women’s Quadrangular series in South Africa in 2017, Deepti Sharma and Poonam Raut broke a longstanding record of England’s Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins of 268 runs for the first wicket. While nineteen-year-old Deepti scored a massive 188 off just 160 balls, an innings studded with 27 fours and 2 sixes, Poonam smashed her way to 109 off 116. Deepti’s 188 is the third-highest individual score in ODIs by a woman cricketer.
Youngest centurion – Mithali Raj
When the Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi scored 102 runs against Sri Lanka at the age of 16 years and 217 days, he managed to achieve the milestone of being the youngest player to score a century. Later on, Mithali Raj broke the record by slamming a century when she was merely 16 years and 205 days. The right-handed batswoman played a match-winning knock of 114 runs against Ireland in 1999 and even after more than two decades, no cricketer has managed to go past her record.
Consecutive T20Is with at least one wicket – Radha Yadav
She made her debut for the national side on 13 February 2018 in a T20I against South Africa. An inexperienced 18-year-old Radha replaced an injured Rajeshwari Gayakwad and has been an important part of the team ever since. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler of the Indian Women’s Cricket team has achieved a unique record in the T20 format. She has consistently taken at least one wicket for 24 consecutive T20Is.
