3 Indian bowlers to watch out for in Commonwealth Games 2022

The Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 to be held in Birmingham is on the cusp of creating history for women’s sports and the sport of cricket, as the 2022 edition of CWG has included women’s T20Is as one of its events for the first time in its history. Also, this will be the first time cricket will be played at the event since 1998.

In the 1998 CWG, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it was the men’s cricket teams that took part. And it was South Africa, led by Shaun Pollock, who defeated Steve Waugh’s Australia in the final to bag the gold medal. New Zealand, led by Stephen Fleming, settled for bronze.

Meanwhile, the T20 format was first introduced in 2003, and the first T20 international game was played in 2005 between Australia and New Zealand. Hence, this will be the first time T20 cricket would feature in the mega event in Birmingham, which cricket matches to commence on July 29.

Here are the three Indian bowlers who can give their best performance in the Commonwealth Games 2022:

1. Renuka Singh

The 26-year-old fast bowler, born in Himachal Pradesh, is one of the emerging bowling talents in Indian cricket. Renuka Singh Thakur made her international debut in October 2021 against Australia in a T20I at Carrara. She has so far appeared in six T20Is and five ODIs for India ever since.

Renuka, predominantly a new ball bowler, has picked up 10 wickets at an average of 18.20 and a strike rate of 22.8, at an economy rate of 4.78 in ODIs and best figures of four wickets for 28 runs. In T20Is, she has picked up three wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.40.

Renuka represented Trailblazers in the Women’s T20 Challenge earlier this year. She picked up one wicket for 32 runs in four overs in their last match against Velocity, while defending a target of 191. Trailblazers went on to win the match by 16 runs. Her ability to swing the ball in English conditions might be key for India in the tournament.

2. Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma is one of India’s most valuable players for her all-round prowess. She is a middle-order batter and India’s frontline off-spinner across formats. She made her India debut in November 2014 against South Africa in an ODI.

Deepti has appeared in two Test matches, 77 ODIs and 61 T20Is ever since. In T20Is, she has 63 wickets in 60 innings at an average of 20.96 and a strike rate of 20.3, with an economy rate of 6.16.

In 2022, she has picked up five T20I wickets in 14 overs at an average of 19 and a strike rate of 16.8 with an economy rate of 6.78. Deepti currently stands fifth in the ICC bowling rankings for women’s T20Is and is the highest-ranked Indian bowler in the format.

3. Rajeshwari Gayakwad

Slow left-arm orthodox spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has been one of India’s most prolific bowlers across formats over the last five years. She made her international debut in January 2014 against Sri Lanka in an ODI.

Gayakwad has picked up five wickets in two Test matches at an average of 29 with best innings figures of four wickets for 54 runs. She has scalped 96 ODI wickets in 61 matches at an economy rate of 3.59 and best match figures of five wickets for 15 runs.

In T20Is, she has picked up 45 wickets in 35 innings at an economy rate of 6.38 and best match figures of three wickets for nine runs. She represented Trailblazers in this year’s Women’s T20 Challenge and picked up three wickets in two matches.