5 names that can shine in upcoming Women’s T20 Challenge
The Women’s T20 challenge, largely known as Women’s IPL, flagged off its journey in the year 2018 in Mumbai. To give new heights to women’s cricket in India, BCCI came up with a women’s T20 cricket tournament that saw teams having players from different countries across the world. In the 2019 edition, three-teams, namely IPL Supernovas, IPL Velocity, and IPL Trailblazers locked horns with each other.
Keeping up with the top-notch consistency, the IPL Supernovas have clinched the trophy in both the seasons held so far. Women’s T20 Challenge 2020 is set to take place in UAE during the playoffs, and let’s look at five players who can win big for their teams.
5. Smriti Mandhana
The 24-year-old has etched her name perfectly in the history of women’s cricket throughout the world. Mandhana, who started playing cricket at the tender age of nine, stunned all by earning herself a place in the U-19 team at the young age of 11. She is the only the 2nd Indian cricketer to have been featured in the foreign league.
The Trailblazers skipper has 2025 ODI, 1716 T20I, and 81 Test runs to her credit. With a reasonable average of 43.04 in the ODIs, she is expected to make a mark in the upcoming WIPL getting underway in UAE.
4. Danielle Wyatt
The 29-year old English player made her debut in the cricket world in 2010 against India and is known for being equally good with both bat and ball. Wyatt hasn’t featured in any Test match so far but is considered a perfect fit in the limited-overs format.
Though she hasn’t been bowling of late due to some issues on her bowling action, she continues to be a great hitter. With 1028 ODI and 1588 T20I runs, she can definitely excel in the coming edition of Women’s T20 Challenge. She was an integral part of the women’s WC winning squad in 2017.
3. Radha Yadav
After plying her trade successfully in the domestic circuit, the 20-year-old Maharashtra bowler bagged herself a place in the T20I squad of India in 2018. Yet to make her debut, she also earned a place in the 2020 women’s WC squad held in Australia. To talk of her records, she became the first-ever bowler to grab at least one wicket in 24 WODIs in a row.
In 35 T20Is played so far, she has 49 scalps to her credit with 4/23 as best bowling figures in a match. Plying her trade for Supernovas, Radha can be expected to shine well in the upcoming WIPL.
2. Jahanara Alam
The 27-year-old Bangladeshi cricketer is known for her key-bowling roles in the women’s cricket world. In the year 2018, she became the first bowler to clinch a five-wicket haul for her national side against Ireland. Plying her trade for Velocity in the last season of WIPL, she bowled the ‘Ball of the tournament’.
With 55 T20I and 33 ODI wickets, she has decent experience under her belt to make a mark in the upcoming season of Women’s T20 Challenge. She also clinched two wickets in last year’s finale.
1. Chamari Atapattu
The 30-year-old Sri Lankan cricketer is the current captain of the women’s T20 international team. Back in November 2017, she was honoured as Women’s cricketer of the year. She is also the first Lankan women to have played the Franchise cricket.
Apart from being a substantial hitter, she is effective with the ball too. Featuring in 84 ODIs and 85 T20Is, she has 2625 and 1646 runs to her credit. She also has 23 and 26 scalps to her name in two formats respectively. She can be a great name in the upcoming season of WIPL.
