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India is widely known for booming in cricket and their all-rounder female cricketers are no exception to it! Surely, one does not necessarily have to be a cricket fanatic to know that India ranks high when it comes to cricket. The nation is responsible for producing immaculate players who possess a godly command of the sport. Indeed, the Indian female cricketers are quashing gender stereotypes that once created obstacles. They are rising in number and thriving at Godspeed. So, let us shed some light on the all-rounder female cricketers of India!
Who is an All-Rounder Cricketer?
An all-rounder cricketer possesses great talent and has a strong command of all formats of the game. To achieve such great heights, one must practice tirelessly, and the key to success is determination. Stay focused and committed, and you will undoubtedly achieve your goals.
In cricket, an all-rounder is a player who can perform well in both batting and bowling. These players can be categorized as either batting all-rounders or bowling all-rounders, depending on their dominant role.
A perfect all-rounder in cricket is a player who can bat, bowl, and field well. A 3-dimensional player is always a treasure for any team, and perfect all-rounders are difficult to find. Examples of such perfect all-rounders include Amelia Kerr and Ellyse Perry, who are both immaculate female all-rounder cricketers.
Introducing the Top Female All-Rounder Cricketers in India
Cricket is a language that is spoken all around the world. In India, it is considered a festive season when IPL, Test Matches, ODIs, and T20 World Cup are going on. People get excited to watch their favourite teams and players competing on the field. In 2023, India’s Women’s Cricket team participated in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for the first time. The WPL is the most recent tournament that people are looking forward to. Needless to say, it is a new sensation that has successfully bedazzled the crowd.
People are also excited to see the top players of the Indian team who are all-rounders and have the potential to win. It is difficult to list down the names as every female cricket player on the Indian team is phenomenal. However, we have made a list of the top 6 players who are all-rounders in their game. Let’s have a look!
1. Talking about Deepti Sharma
Deepti Bhagwan Sharma is a talented Indian cricketer who excels as both an all-rounder left-handed batter and a right-arm off-break bowler. In addition to this, she is currently ranked fourth among the best all-rounders by the ICC cricket rankings. Deepti holds the unique distinction of being the only female cricketer to have scored 188 runs in women’s cricket ODIs.
Additionally, she is also the only female cricketer to have taken a 5-wicket haul in a row. Having taken 6 consecutive wickets of a Sri Lankan player and conceding just 20 runs in the process is amazing, indeed!
Deepti’s strong performances in-state games and for the A-side earned her an international debut for India. She made her debut in a series-clinching match against South Africa at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is where she put up an impressive bowling performance despite being on the losing side. Since then, Deepti has become a regular member of the national team. Moreover, she has amassed several unique records even before turning 20.
Curiosity for Her Brother Leads to a Breakthrough!
Deepti Sharma was only 9 years old when she became curious about her brother’s well-known reputation in the local cricket scene. Sumit, her brother, had modelled his bowling style after former Indian speedster Lakshmipathy Balaji. Evidently, his skills naturally attracted attention.
Despite having a unique hairstyle that made people mistake her for a boy at her brother’s practices, Deepti was in for a shock. She certainly could not have imagined that one such incident would set her on an unforeseen path to success.
During a net session at the Ekalavya Sports Stadium in Agra, Deepti was asked to return the ball. Surprising everyone, she threw the ball and hit the stumps from a 50-meter distance. Hemlata Kala, the selector for India’s national women’s team, witnessed this remarkable display. Indeed, this became a turning point in Deepti’s life. This was it!
Records of All-rounder Female Cricketers in India – Deepti Sharma
- 3rd Most runs in innings (by batting position) (188) in Women’s ODI
- 2nd Highest maiden hundred (188) in Women’s ODI
- 4th Outstanding bowling analyses in an innings (6/20) in Women’s ODI
- 3rd Most consecutive four-wickets-in-an-innings (2) in Women’s ODI
- 6th Most wickets taken caught and bowled (9) in Women’s ODI
- 5th Most catches in an innings (3) in Women’s ODI
- 250 runs and 10 wickets in a series record in Women’s ODI
- 1st Highest partnership for the first wicket (320) in Women’s ODI
- 3rd Most maidens in an innings (3) in Women’s Twenty20 Internationals
- 6th Bowler/fielder combinations (13) in Women’s Twenty20 Internationals
- 5th Highest partnership for the fourth wicket (128) in Women’s Twenty20 Internationals
2. Introducing Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana is a left-handed Indian batter and one of the top female cricketers in the world. She was named to the ICC Women’s Team of the Year in 2016 and was awarded the MA Chidambaram Trophy by the BCCI. Furthermore, in 2016, she was signed by the Brisbane Heat team in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Smriti’s journey to becoming a top player has certainly been fascinating. She started by shadowing her brother at cricket practice, and now she’s one of the cornerstones of the Indian women’s cricket team. Additionally, she’s considered one of the best batters in the game and holds several records.
Smriti was once the world’s No. 1 batter in the ICC women’s cricket rankings. Moreover, she is also the youngest captain of the Indian cricket team, for both men and women. She even led the Royal Challengers Bangalore to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 title.
A Special Present from Rahul Dravid!
During Smriti Mandhana’s initial limited appearances, her bat seemed a bit too big for her. However, she later revealed that it was not her actual playing bat but a signed practice bat gifted to her by her brother, from Indian cricket legend Rahul Dravid.
“Shravan met Rahul sir and asked him if he could give him a bat,” Smriti Mandhana explained. “So, he gave it to him and signed it with my name. My brother was also very sweet, got him to sign it for me. I was just going to keep it as a showpiece as an autographed bat from Dravid but as soon as I picked it, I found it had an amazing balance and I started playing with it.”
A few months later, Mandhana would go on to achieve another significant milestone. Yes, she was indeed using the Dravid-signed willow. Polishing her skills while mastering all the formats served as an advantage as Smriti climbed the ladder towards success. Kudos to her!
Records of All-rounder Female Cricketers in India – Smriti Mandhana
- 2nd cricketer after Australia’s Ellyse Perry to win the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award (Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award) twice.
- Joint-fastest T20 50 in women’s cricket with New Zealand’s Sophie Devine (18 balls).
- Fastest T20I 50 by an Indian woman (23 balls).
- 3rd Indian woman to score 2,000 runs in T20I cricket.
- 6th Indian woman to score 2,000 runs in ODI cricket.
- 1st cricketer to score 10 consecutive 50-plus scores while chasing in ODI cricket.
- 1st Indian women’s cricketer to score an ODI and Test century in Australia.
- 1st Indian woman to score a double century in 50-over cricket (Maharashtra vs Gujarat)
- Commonwealth Games 2022 silver medal winner
- Asian Games 2023 gold medal winner
- Also led RCB to the WPL 2024 title
3. Greatest All-rounder Female Cricketers in India Featuring Mithali Raj
Mithali Dorai Raj, the former captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket team, is considered one of the best female bowlers of all time. She holds the record for the most runs scored in women’s international cricket. Furthermore, Mithali’s highest score was 214 runs in a single match against England. Impeccably, she achieved this record at the age of 19. She won her first Test series in England in 2006 and led the Indian team to their first-ever World Cup finals in 2016.
As a captain of the Women in Blue, Mithali Raj has indeed become a symbol of women’s cricket in India. At the age of 16, she scored an impressive 114 runs. Her outstanding performance struck waves across the globe and left the audience in sheer awe. Impressing the world with her finesse, she broke the stereotype of a sport traditionally dominated by men.
Evidently, she serves as an inspiration to every aspiring female cricketer. Whoever dreams of representing India on the international stage considers her their idol. Plus, did you know that Mithali is also a trained Bharatnatyam dancer?!
A Dancer and a Cricketer!
Mithali Raj’s father used to work with Andhra Bank, and he used to take her to St. John’s Coaching Camp. Despite it being an all-boys coaching camp, he did not hesitate. This short stay gave Mithali the idea of exploring her abilities in cricket. Moving forward, she began receiving training from a strict coach named Sampath Kumar at Keyes School. Coach Sampath helped her understand that her real calling in life was on the cricket field. Goodspeed to him!
Aside from cricket, Mithali has always enjoyed dancing and learned Bharatnatyam. While her mother wanted her to pursue a career in Bharatnatyam, her father wanted her to become a cricketer. Indeed, she was hesitant at first, and rightfully so.
Mithali came from a Tamil background and no one in her family had explored cricket, let alone played it. Thus, it was difficult for her grandparents to accept that their granddaughter would be playing cricket with boys. However, it has all worked out quite well in the end!
Awards Achieved
| Name of Award | Year of Award |
| Arjuna Award | 2003 |
| Padma Shri | 2015 |
| Youth Sports Icon of Excellence Award | 2017 |
| BBC 100 Women | 2017 |
| Vogue Sportsperson of the Year | 2017 |
| Wisden Leading Woman Cricketer in the World | 2017 |
Records and Interesting Factoids of All-rounder Female Cricketers in India – Mithali Raj
- Raj is the 1st Indian and the 5th woman cricketer in the world to score a hefty sum of 1,000 runs in the World Cup.
- She also holds a remarkable record of the highest individual score made by an Indian woman cricketer. This record was made in a World Cup match!
- Mithali has been proudly named ‘Lady Tendulkar of Indian Women’s Cricket’.
- She has also played the most consecutive Women’s One Day Internationals for a team.
- Most excitingly, it is said that a movie is being made about the life of Mithali Raj.
4. Speaking of Jhulan Goswami
Jhulan Nishit Goswami is a former captain of the Indian national women’s cricket team. Moreover, she is an astounding all-rounder player who has represented India from 2002 to 2022. She is widely considered as one of the greatest women fast bowlers of all time. Additionally, Jhulan holds the record for being the fastest bowler in the history of women’s cricket.
Jhulan is also known as the ‘Bowling Warehouse’ for the Indian team. Impressing everyone worldwide, she has set many records and won numerous awards. For instance, the prestigious ‘ICC Women’s Player of the Year’ in 2007, the Arjuna Award in 2010, and the Padma Shri award in 2012 – the highest civilian award in India.
A Biopic in Bollywood!
Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has performed in a biopic on the life of former Indian captain, Jhulan Goswami. It is called “Chakda Xpress”. In a post, Anushka expressed her excitement for the film which gives the impression that Jhulan’s contributions are not only in the world of cricket.
She stated, “Chakda Xpress is inspired by the life and times of former Indian captain Jhulan Goswami and it will be an eye-opener into the world of women’s cricket. At a time when Jhulan decided to become a cricketer and make her country proud on the global stage, it was very tough for women to even think of playing the sport. This film is a dramatic retelling of several instances that shaped her life and also women’s cricket.”
Anushka concluded her statement with these words, “We should all salute Jhulan and her team-mates for revolutionizing women’s cricket in India. It is their hard work, their passion and their undefeated mission to bring attention to women’s cricket that has turned things around for generations to come.”
She further added, “As a woman, I was proud to hear Jhulan’s story and it is an honour for me to try and bring her life to audiences and cricket lovers. As a cricketing nation, we have to give our women cricketers their due. Jhulan’s story is truly an underdog story in the history of cricket in India and the film is our celebration of her spirit.”
Records, Achievements and Awards of All-rounder Female Cricketers in India – Jhulan Goswami
- Captain of Indian Women’s Cricket Team 2008-2011.
- Fastest Bowler.
- Leading International Wicket Taker.
| Name of Award | Year of Award |
| ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year | 2007 |
| Arjuna Award | 2010 |
| Padma Shri Award | 2012 |
5. Alluding to Harmanpreet Kaur
Harmanpreet Kaur is the current captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket team and is an all-rounder player. She made her ODI debut in March 2009 at the age of 20. Displaying impeccable performance, she played against Pakistan’s women during the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup held at Bradman Oval in Bowral.
Indeed, Harmanpreet represents the new-age Indian women’s cricketer. She has been actively at the centre of ad campaigns, endorsements, and central contracts. Furthermore, she is a pathbreaker and became the first Indian cricketer, male or female, to sign a Big Bash League contract with Sydney Thunder in Australia.
This deal came about on the back of an impressive showing during India’s tour of Australia in January 2016, where she made a 31-ball 46 to script India’s highest-ever T20 chase. In June 2017, she became the first Indian to sign with Surrey Stars in ECB’s Kia Super League.
Harmanpreet’s impressive performances have been acknowledged by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport. For her talents, she was awarded the Arjuna Awards for Cricket in 2017. She is also responsible for making a century in Women’s T20 International for India in 2018. Additionally, in 2019, she played her 100th International Twenty20 match for India against the South African women’s cricket team.
Harmanpreet’s Rise to Glory!
Harmanpreet is widely famous for her exceptional ability to hit the ball a long way. Beautifully, she demonstrated this skill in a T20 International game. This match was against the England women’s team in Mumbai in 2010, and she bagged a blazing 33 runs.
Her impressive performance earned her the Indian captaincy in 2012 for the Women’s T20 Asia Cup. Replacing the injured Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet went along to prove herself as a gem of a captain!
Kaur played a vital role in India’s T20 series win against Australia. Scoring a quickfire 46 runs from just 31 balls, she was helping India chase down the highest score ever made in T20 Internationals. Her form continued immaculately.
Playing like a beast, she scored 89 runs and took seven wickets in four matches, in the 2016 ICC Women’s World Twenty20. Showcasing her exceptional all-round skills, Harmanpreet was the star of the show!
Records of All-rounder Female Cricketers in India – Harmanpreet Kaur
- 2nd Highest Scorer in Women’s One Day Internationals
- Kaur scored 171 off 151 balls in a match played against Australia – Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final in 2017.
- Highest Individual score for India in the history of the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
- 2nd Indian Batter to rank in the Top Ten ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings.
6. Greatest All-rounder Female Cricketers in India Featuring Anjum Chopra
Anjum Chopra is a former Indian Cricket Team player and current cricket commentator. Amazingly, she made history by being the first woman to score 1,000 runs in ODIs for India. Emerging victoriously, she played a crucial role in several historic victories for the team.
It was due to her outstanding performances that helped her make a name for herself. Indeed, in the male-dominated sport in India, this task was exceptionally difficult. However, her hard work paid off successfully! Soon she was getting recognised as the face of women’s cricket in India.
After observing Anjum’s leadership skills, she was soon appointed Vice Captain of the Indian team for the 2000 ESPNcricinfo World Cup. Proudly, she led India to memorable victories. This includes a whitewash win over England and a historic Test win in South Africa.
Amazingly, her tenure as captain saw India reach new heights in women’s cricket. To top it off, she was culminating in a runner-up finish at the 2005 World Cup in South Africa.
She is Appreciably More
Anjum Chopra is a well-known cricket player but also an advocate for women’s sports. She is also responsible for contributing profoundly to women’s empowerment in India. Indeed, Anjum inspires young cricketers, particularly girls. Her achievements and leadership qualities continue to spur young girls in today’s generation.
In addition to this, Anjum holds an MBA in Human Resource & Marketing from Fore School of Management. She has also conducted training programs for various globally recognised brands such as GE, Standard Chartered, Goldman Sachs, schools, and colleges. Being appointed as a technical consultant to South Africa’s Women’s cricket team, Anjum became the first woman cricketer to receive an international appointment.
Contributions to the World
Brilliantly, Anjum he has served as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador’ in South Africa. She is responsible for raising awareness of ‘Breast Cancer’ among women in the area. Lastly, Anjum is a co-author of the coffee table book titled ‘Women’s Cricket World – A Journey from 1745-2013.’
Despite the male-dominated nature of cricket in India, Anjum has established herself as a prominent figure in women’s cricket. She has played, captained, consulted, motivated, written, and acted, making her the face of women’s cricket in the country. Indeed, she is quite versatile!
Records, Achievements and Awards of All-rounder Female Cricketers in India – Anjum Chopra
- 1st Woman Captain to win two Test series hosted abroad.
- Test Series South Africa in 2002
- Test Series England in 2006
- 1st Indian Woman Cricketer to play 100 One Day International matches.
- She is also the first Indian woman cricketer to receive Honorary Lifetime Membership of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2016.
- Represented India in all formats:
| ODIs | 127 |
| Test Series | 12 |
| T20 | 18 |
| World Cup | 4 |
| Name of Awards | Year of Awards |
| Rajiv Gandhi Delhi State Award | 2004 |
| Shiromani Desh Sewa Rattan Award | 2002 |
| Zee Astitva Award | 2008 |
| FICCI – YFLO – Young Women Achievers Award | 2009 |
| ICC Player of the Match | 2000, 2005 and 2009 |
| Arjuna Award | 2007 |
| Padma Shri Award | 2014 |
Try Your Luck with the Most Talented Female All-Rounder Cricketers!
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Women for the Win!
Women in cricket have been breaking barriers and setting records for decades now. Many cricket boards around the globe are encouraging female cricketers to pursue their dreams. Which was once a highly unlikely coincidence or even a dream, is now a comfortable and honorary career choice. It comes with great admiration to experience, observe and document the achievements of women in a male-dominated sport.
There will be more stories to tell.
