Indian pacer Renuka Singh will return to the team for the upcoming ODI series against Australia after being absent since December 2024, suffering from a stress fracture. The Himachal pacer missed out on months of cricket but is back with the Indian setup to spearhead the pace attack in the three-match series starting on September 14.

Renuka Singh Thakur has been a fine property for India over the last few years and has been one of India’s best strike bowlers, taking 35 ODI wickets at an impressive average of 22.02 and economy of 4.85. She has been consistently fine with the new ball and has been the linchpin of India's bowling attack.

Since her recovery, not only is Renuka back in the squad for the Australia series, but she has also been picked in India's squad for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. India's timing could not be better as they look to build momentum before their significant international matches.

Head Coach Confirms Renuka as Bowling Leader

Speaking ahead of the series, Indian women’s head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed Renuka’s fitness and pivotal role in the team. “Renuka has just joined in for this series. She was recovering, and she cleared all her tests. Renuka is an important member of the team; she is the leader of the pack as far as medium-pace bowling is concerned. I think she's been an integral part of this team. She had an injury and a layoff, and now she's back with us,” Muzumdar said.

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The Indian women’s team comes into the series off strong performances, having comfortably defeated England in both the ODI and T20I series. They will face Australia in a three-match ODI series, with the first two games on September 14 and 17 at the New Chandigarh Stadium and the final ODI on September 20 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. India will then open their Women’s World Cup 2025 campaign against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30, with the final scheduled for November 2.

IPL 2025: March 21 Start Date Announced, Mega Auction Sets New Record

Indian Premier League(IPL) are going to start on March 21, 2025. That's what the Chairman of IPL, Arun Dhumal, said to everyone on Monday. Before all that, they had a strikingly large player sale last November in 2024. It was in Jeddah in the country of Saudi Arabia. Total 182 players were sold and  It was approximately ₹639.15 crore! That's very huge money.

Dhumal also confirmed that there will be no major changes to the IPL rules this season. Speaking at the third Sansad Khel Mahakumbh in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, he assured fans that despite the absence of new rule changes, IPL 2025 promises to deliver even more entertainment than the previous season.

“The IPL season is set to start in March, with March 21 as the fixed date. The full schedule will be announced in a few days, There won’t be any big changes in the rules. IPL is the top cricket league in the world, where players from around the globe participate. It’s run with a very competitive spirit, and this season will definitely be even better.”

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh: On starting of Member of Parliament Khel Mahakumbh 3.0, Chairman of IPL Arun Dhumal says, "I would like to wish all the participants a very happy and prosperous year. I would like to congratulate all the participants on the start of this wonderful… pic.twitter.com/iu11tHzhN5

— IANS (@ians_india) January 27, 2025

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The Dharamshala Stadium is going to be very, very busy! Arun Dhumal said that a lot of local games will happen there. In addition, three major games from the IPL will be played there in 2025. The Dharamshala Stadium is the secondary home ground for the Punjab Kings team in the IPL 2025. 

“Renuka Singh Thakur, a girl from our Himachal, was the Women Cricketer of the Year of ICC last year. When such opportunities are organized here, then more and more talents will get the opportunity to show their talent. And I believe that in the coming time, it will be of great benefit to the country and the state"

Speaking at the third edition of the Sansad Khel Mahakumbh, a government initiative to promote sports in rural areas, Dhumal highlighted that many talented players today come from villages. The event, which began on Monday at the Bilaspur cricket stadium, features a cricket tournament with 45 teams from across the district, running until March. Dhumal also praised Renuka Singh Thakur, a proud representative of Himachal Pradesh who has risen to play cricket for India, inspiring countless young athletes.

In a pivotal semifinal encounter, Bangladesh Women opted to bat first after winning the toss, but the decision backfired as they lost three wickets within the powerplay. Renuka Singh Thakur delivered a masterclass with the ball, finishing with remarkable figures of 3/10 in her four overs. Captain Nigar Sultana tried to steady the innings with a patient 32 off 51 balls, but wickets kept falling around her.

Shorna Akter’s unbeaten 19 off 18 balls provided some late resistance, but Bangladesh could only post 80/8 in their 20 overs. Alongside Renuka’s brilliance, Radha Yadav also shone with three wickets, while Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma each took one. In reply, Indian openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana swiftly chased down the target, racing to 70 after just 10 overs and effectively ending the contest early. Bangladesh’s fielding woes, including dropped catches and a costly no-ball that gave Smriti Mandhana a second chance, proved detrimental.

Smriti Mandhana seized the opportunity, scoring a quick half-century and finishing the game with a boundary. India’s commanding performance with both bat and ball secured their place in the final, highlighting their dominance throughout the match.

See Also: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Pre-match Analysis: How can Pakistan Women neutralize Chamari Athapaththu’s Threat?

Renuka Singh Thakur’s Stellar Spell: 3/10 in Four Overs

In the crucial semifinal clash between India Women and Bangladesh Women, Renuka Singh Thakur delivered a spell of bowling brilliance that left the opposition reeling. Her disciplined and incisive bowling played a pivotal role in dismantling the Bangladesh batting lineup, starting with her first wicket. Renuka’s initial breakthrough came with a pitched-up delivery outside off in the good length area. With a hint of swing, Akter swung her bat, only to find the lone fielder on the leg side at deep square leg, falling victim to Renuka’s precise line and length.

Renuka’s second wicket was a mirror image of her first, further demonstrating her ability to exploit the conditions and outthink the batters. She bowled a length ball around off in the good length area, with a subtle swing into the stumps. Tanjim, aiming to go over cover, mistimed her shot and ended up offering a simple catch. The resemblance to the previous dismissal highlighted Renuka’s strategic prowess, as she continued to apply relentless pressure on the Bangladesh batters.

The third wicket for Renuka was a testament to her versatility and tactical acumen. She bowled a length ball around middle and leg in the back-of-length area, targeting Khatun. Desperate to break free from the shackles, Khatun attempted an aggressive shot but only managed to mistime it, resulting in another straightforward catch. Renuka’s ability to mix her lengths and maintain a tight line ensured that the Bangladesh batters never settled at the crease.

By the end of her spell, Renuka Singh Thakur had remarkable figures of 3/10 in four overs, including a maiden over, with an impressive economy rate of 2.5. Her disciplined bowling allowed only one boundary, underscoring her dominance and control over the game. Renuka’s performance not only stifled the Bangladesh batting lineup but also set the tone for India’s commanding position in the match.

Renuka’s exceptional spell was a masterclass in seam bowling, blending accuracy, swing, and tactical intelligence. Her ability to extract movement from the pitch and consistently hit the right areas made her a nightmare for the Bangladesh batters. As she walked off the field, her team celebrated a bowling performance that will be remembered as one of the highlights of the Asia Cup 2024 Women’s tournament. This spell not only propelled India to a dominant position but also showcased Renuka Singh Thakur’s growing stature as a key player in the Indian bowling attack.

See Also: Women’s Asia Cup 2024: Pre-match Analysis: Can the Bangladesh Women Outplay the Formidable Indian Side?

Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav led India’s bowling attack, helping the team reach the final of the Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh by 10 wickets. Renuka 3-10 and Radha 3-14 shines with the ball, limiting Bangladesh to just 80/8. India chased down the target in only 11 overs, with Mandhana scoring a quick fifty.

India’s bowlers never let Bangladesh settle after they chose to bat. Wickets fell regularly in the powerplay, middle overs, and at the end, preventing Bangladesh from building any partnerships. With boundaries hard to come by, Bangladesh’s bowlers had no chance as Mandhana and Shafali powered India into their ninth Women’s Asia Cup final.

Bangladesh innings

Powerplay: Renuka strikes early

Renuka bowled three overs in the powerplay, taking a wicket in each. Dilara Akter hit a six but was out trying to repeat the shot. Ishma Tanjim edged Renuka to short third man after hitting two fours off Pooja Vastrakar. Murshida Khatun was dropped but then caught in the deep trying to pull Renuka. Regular wickets meant Bangladesh couldn’t capitalize in the powerplay.

Middle overs: Bangladesh struggles

Renuka bowled a maiden in the seventh over to finish her spell. Indian bowlers kept it tight, not allowing Bangladesh to score freely. Radha bowled Rumana Ahmed in the 10th over, leaving Bangladesh at 32/4. Rabeya Khan and Ritu Moni fell quickly, leaving Bangladesh at 44/6.

Death overs: Radha’s tight bowling

Bangladesh crossed 50 in the 16th over. Shorna Akter edged Radha for a four, their first boundary in over 11 overs. Deepti bowled an economical 18th over. Shorna and Sultana managed a four each off Vastrakar. Radha bowled an excellent final over, dismissing Sultana and Nahida Akter, keeping Bangladesh to a low total.

India innings

Powerplay: Strong start

India started quickly, scoring over half the target in the powerplay. Mandhana and Shafali hit boundaries off Marufa Akter and Nahida. Mandhana hit a six off Jahanara Alam and two fours off Nahida. Despite Jahanara’s tight sixth over, India had a strong powerplay.

Middle overs: Mandhana finishes early

Mandhana edged Jahanara to backward point but was relieved as the bowler overstepped. Mandhana hit a four off Rabeya Khan. In the 11th over, Mandhana hit three successive fours off Nahida, reaching her fifty and finishing the chase.

Player of the Match(Renuka Singh):

“I am very happy. It was a big match for us and to do well is a good feeling. The idea is to work on the basics. I executed what we prepared yesterday. Got a lot help from the wind blowing across. I like bowling with the new ball, and got to bowl my spell early. I was happy with all my wickets, because you get rewarded for your work.”