From Jemimah Rodrigues to Shafali Verma – Youngsters take the limelight in 2019

Women’s Cricket has seen a rapid rise in the last couple of years. Although the 2017 World Cup laid the foundation, last two years have supported well in the business. While the veterans have been doing well with the bat, youngsters are not far behind. However, the youngsters like Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Priya Punia etc. have taken the limelight away from the others.

5 Best Performances of 2019

1. Smriti Mandhana – 105 against New Zealand

India’s prolific batter Smriti Mandhana started the year with a composed hundred which came against New Zealand on January 24. Fielding first, Indian bowlers restricted the opponents within 192 on board, courtesy Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav’s 3-wicket haul each.

While chasing, it was an easy task for India openers – Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana. Both took no time to settle in the middle and added 190-run partnership for the first wicket. While Jemimah scored an unbeaten 81, the game will be remembered for Smriti Mandhana who smashed a blitzy 105 with 9 boundaries and 3 sixes.

India won the game by 9 wickets and Mandhana was named the ‘Player of the Match’. However, Mandhana is the third-highest run-getter in the ICC Women’s Championship so far with 911 runs from 16 innings, after Alyssa Healy (1000 runs) and Tammy Beaumont (945 runs).

2. Jemimah Rodrigues – 112* against Southern Vipers

One of the key players of India, Jemimah Rodrigues came in the limelight when she smashed 202 off 163 balls in Aurangabad against Saurashtra in November 2017 and became the only second player to do so after Smriti Mandhana in the domestic cricket.

Within no time, she has earned her maiden call-up and since then, it’s only the rise and rise for this youngster. Her formidable form helped her making the debut in the fourth and final edition of Kia Super League this year. The 19-year old batting mainstay of India smashed an unbeaten century against the Southern Vipers for a winning cause.

Her century came off 51 balls making it the fastest hundred in the history of this league. Her 112* off 58 decorated with 17 fours and a six. With this century, she became the second Indian to do so after Smriti Mandhana and also finished the season as the second-highest run-getter with 401 runs – after Danielle Wyatt (466).

3. Shafali Verma – From debut to century in Australia

Another youngster who has shown her calibre within no time after making her debut is none other than Shafali Verma. The name first came in the limelight during a domestic match in the 2018-19 senior women’s T20 tournament where she smashed 128 off 56 balls against Nagaland.

However, she didn’t let the focus go away from her and on the back of a successful domestic season she was named in the Velocity team in the Women’s T20 Challenge played in May. She impressed everyone with her free-flowing batting and within no time, she has donned the blue jersey as well.

She made her debut against South Africa in October which made her the youngest Indian cricketer to play T20I cricket. Although she failed to score a fifty there, she left no stone unturned in the next series against West Indies. While playing against the West Indies in their backyard in November, she became the youngest Indian (15 years and 285 days) to make an international half-century, breaking the record of batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar (16 years and 214 days).

Playing only her fifth international match, her maiden half-century included six fours and four sixes. Her blazing knock helped team India register a convincing 84-run win. Not only in the first game, but she also made rapid strides in the second T20I as well. She scored her second successive half-century and remained unbeaten at 69 off 35.

In both the matches, Shafali and Smriti Mandhana shared more than hundred-run partnership. The 143-run opening stand between the two in the second T20I was India’s highest partnership in the shortest format of the game. Her fearless approach and big-hitting ability named her in India A series against Australia A in December.

She ensured the limelight stays on her only and smashed 124 off 78 against Australia A in the first One Day game. Although India A lost two early wickets, that affected neither the run-rate nor the approach of Shafali who broke the shackle by hitting boundaries.

Her century came off 63 balls. She ended up scoring 124 off 78 balls which included 19 boundaries and 4 sixes. Although it is too early to predict the future, keeping her form in mind, it can be said that she can be an option to fill the void left by Mithali Raj in the T20.

4. Veda Krishnamurthy – 113 Against Australia A

How many of you still remember the swashbuckling knock of her during the ICC World Cup against New Zealand in Derby? I am sure many!

Her stormy 70 off 45 alongside the captain Mithali Raj’s century helped India win the game and reached the semi-final of the World Cup as well in 2017. Considered as one of best batters, as well as, the best fielders of India, Veda Krishnamurthy has finally back in the groove after having faced a rough patch.

Although her rough patch dropped her from the ODI squad, she is regular in the T20s. While playing against Windies in the fifth T20I, she showed her ability and came in side’s rescue. Alongside the fifty from Jemimah Rodrigues, she also scored a quickfire 57 and helped India sweep over Windies by 5-0.

She continued her form for India A against Australia A while leading the team. In the first One Day, while Shafali Verma was hitting all over the park, Veda was no far behind. After Shafali’s dismissal, it was Veda who took the onus on her shoulder, holding at one end and brought up her century as well. She scored a 99-ball 113 with 16 fours and a six. However, her return to form will be beneficial for India for the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2020.

5. Priya Punia – 112 against Australia A

Having made her T20I debut against New Zealand earlier this year, she failed to leave her mark in the opening game. Her ODI debut came in October against South Africa which she made sure to be a memorable one. She remained unbeaten on 75 on her debut. In November, she made another composed 75 against West Indies in the first ODI in Antigua.

However, it was her century against Australia A which will be remembered in 2019. Having won the first One Day, India were high on confidence but it was Australia A who bounced back brilliantly. Batting first, both Georgia Redmayne and Erin Burns’centuries put up a huge total of 315 after 50 overs.

Chasing 316, India A started well as the openers Priya Punia and Shafali Verma added 98 runs. However, two wickets in quick successions left India A struggled a bit before Veda Krishnamurthy joined hands with Priya. Although they stitched a 107-run stand, it was Priya who took the charge.

She tried her best to finish the game but dismissed at 112 off 127 with 16 boundaries and 2 sixes. India A lost the series but Priya Punia will certainly end the year with a high note regarding her form.