Rajeshwari Gayakwad

One of the most prominent figures in the Indian women’s team, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is both confident and compassionate about her game. She is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who has been a go-to for her captain, when in need of big breakthroughs at crucial times in a match.

Rajeshwari started playing professional cricket at the age of 18 when she was picked in the Karnatka Women’s squad. After proving herself in the domestic circuit, the Bijapur-born got a big leap in 2014 when she was picked in the national squad.

She made her international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka on January 19th, 2014 and bowled a fine spell on her debut picking up 2 wickets for 11 runs in her 8 overs which saw the visiting side bowled out for just 76 runs.  Later in the very same tournament, she made her T20 debut as well.

Rajeshwari was part of the women’s team that reached the finals of the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup. Though the team lost in the finals, her brilliant spell of 5/15 helped the team win against New Zealand in the group stage.

She also represented the Indian Women’s team in the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup held in Australia. She scalped 7 wickets in 6 games and bowled under an economy of 6 to lead the Women in Blue to the finals where they lost against the mighty Aussies. In the recently concluded South Africa tour of India, she won the player of the match award for her brilliant spell which dismantled the Proteas top-order. In her 4 overs quota, Rajeshwari picked 3 wickets for 9 runs and restricted the visitors to just 112 in a landslide victory. Although India lost both the ODI and T20 series, Rajeshwari Gayakwad troubled the South African batters throughout the series.

(As of March 2021)