Live Scores

cricket Live Scores & Fixtures

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

Who are the next cricketing stars from Bengal? Sportz Point presents you with seven U-19 cricketers from Bengal cricket who can play for India in future.

Dec 19, 2024, 9:05 AM8 min read

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future | Sportz Point

Bengal has been a centre of sporting excellence for generations, having produced countless sports legends. In cricket, the state has a rich legacy since the 1960s and 70s in the Indian national team. Ambar Roy, Subhash Gupte, Sourav Ganguly, Jhulan Goswami, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami, Richa Ghosh, and Akash Deep are some of the renowned cricketing personalities who have represented India in the international arena.

Despite this rich legacy, the state of Bengal has struggled to produce homegrown cricketing stars in recent decades, especially in men's cricket. Though talents such as Titas Sadhu and Saika Ishaque have successfully earned the coveted India cap, native top-tier players have rarely emerged in recent years.

Below are the seven homegrown U-19 talents from Bengal we at Sportz Point believe can go the distance and make their mark in international cricket. Please note, the list is in random order.

1. Ankit Chatterjee

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Ankit Chatterjee | Sportz Point
Ankit hitting a boundary during a Cooch Behar Trophy match at Eden Gardens. Image | CAB Media

Ankit Chatterjee is one of the most promising U-19 talents in Bengal at the moment. The left-handed top-order batter has all the skills to be a future star for Bengal and eventually in Indian cricket. In the recently concluded Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Ankit finished as Bengal's highest scorer and fourth-highest in the tournament. Ankit finished the tournament with 376 runs in 9 games with an average of 41.78 and a strike rate of 98.42. 

Along with his dominance in white-ball cricket, Ankit has shown his skill in the red-ball format as well. Till now, he has scored 300 runs in Cooch Behar Trophy with an average of 50.00 and is Bengal's highest scorer in the tournament as well.

During his U-16s days, Ankit was also the Bengal's highest run scorer in the Vijay Merchant Trophy as well. Ankit plays for Shyambazar Club in Kolkata First-Division Cricket and has featured for Murshidabad Kings in Bengal Pro T20 League as well.

Read Also | Vinoo Mankad Trophy: Vishal Bhati's 111 and Ankit Chatterjee's 92 help Bengal qualify for final after 11 years

2. Yudhajit Guha

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Yudhajit Guha | sportzpoint.com
Yudhajit Guha in his bowling stride during a Cooch Behar Trophy match at Eden Gardens. Image | CAB Media

Medium pacer Yudhajit Guha has already featured for India U-19 in a series against Australia U-19 and also did well in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup where India lost in the final against Bangladesh U-19. 

The 18-year-old pacer has been playing for Bengal in underage cricket since the U-16s and came through the ranks after doing well in those levels. Guha has a long run-up and has an economical action which helps him bowl longer spells without wasting much energy.

Guha's 57/6 against Saurashtra followed by a 23/7 against Jharkhand in this season's Cooch Behar Trophy impressed the BCCI selectors, which helped him don the U-19 jersey. He took 8 wickets in 5 games in Vinoo Mankad Trophy where Bengal played the final

Yudhajit's father Koushik Guha, who himself is a coach in the Kolkata Club Cricket League, has played a major role in his career. Guha is currently also the vice-captain of the Bengal U-19 team as Bengal prepares for the knockouts of the Cooch Behar Trophy tournament.

Read Also | Exclusive | "Felt like my debut:" Bengal pacer Ishan Porel now wants to enjoy his cricket after a solid comeback to first-class cricket

3. Debjani Das

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Debjani Das | sportzpoint.com
Debjani in action during the Bengal Women's Pro T20 League. Image | CAB

During the inaugural Bengal Women's Pro T20 League 2024 tournament, Sportz Point had already written about this exceptional talent from Bengal. 5 feet 8 inches Tall, sharp and smart U-15 left-arm leg spinner Debjani Das already had impressed none other than Jhulan Goswami in her first trials and since then already made her mark by helping Bengal win the BCCI Women's U-15 One Day Tournament. 

Read Also | Women's Cricket Exclusive: Age 14, 5 feet 8 inches tall, bowls left-arm wrist spin; Debjani Das is all set to be Bengal's next cricketing superstar

Debjani was very impressive during the Bengal Women's Pro T20 League and despite being one of the younger players in the tournament, attracted the attention of CAB coaches and selectors. The 14-year-old Kuldeep Yadav fan has a top-arm action which enables her to get that extra bounce which can trouble any batter in the world.

Besides being a smart spinner, Debjani is sharp in the field and is an all-round athlete. In the BCCI U-15 Women's One-Day Tournament, Debjani finished with 21 wickets in just 8 matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker in the whole tournament. And, as a few legends have already mentioned, "she is the one for the future".

4. Sandipta Patra

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Sandipta Patra | sportzpoint.com
Sandipya during the BCCI Women's U-15 One-Day Tournament. Image | CAB

Like Debjani, here is another player from the Bengal U-15 team who I believe can play for India in the near future. Sandipta Patra, the right-handed top-order batter scored 372 runs in just 7 innings in BCCI U-15 Women's One-Day Tournament with a staggering average of 93.00. She finished the tournament as Bengal's highest run-getter and second-highest overall as Bengal clinched the trophy under her captaincy. 

Sandipta was part of Murshidabad Queens in the Bengal Women's Pro T20 League and played a vital knock of 45 in the final where they lost against Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers. She also finished as the seventh-highest run scorer of the tournament as well.

Read Also | 300 in a U-13 match: Bengal's wonder kid Ram Sen creates history in CAB Ambar Roy U-13 Tournament

5. Agniswar Das

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Agniswar Das | Sportz Point
Agniswar Das was awarded the player-of-the-match for his brilliant 87 off 113 balls vs MP. Image | CAB Media

Although only 17, the dashing right-handed batter from the district of Birbhum has been in the news of Bengal cricket since his U-13 days when he impressed one and all in the CAB Ambar Roy Sub Junior U13 tournament. Agniswar's batting has some unique style and flair which will make anyone sit and watch his game. 

He announced himself in Bengal cricket with an unbeaten 250 against Goa in the Vijay Merchant Trophy last season and since then has played for Town Club in the last two seasons. This year has signed for Kalighat Club where he will have the chance to learn from players like Anustup Majumdar and Manoj Tiwary.

In the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, he has scored 295 runs at an average of 42.14 and surely has the guts and talent to become Bengal's next big thing in Men's cricket.

6. Toriya Singha Roy

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Toriya Singha Roy | Sportz Point
Toriya Singha Roy scored a fine 56 off 89 balls against Chhattisgarh. Image | CAB Media

Another player from the Bengal Women's U-15 team who has immense potential to play for India. A stylish left-handed batter who bats at the top of the order and has a bat flow like Smriti Mandhana must be a special player. 

Toriya showcased her class while scoring 209 runs in the BCCI U-15 Women's One-Day tournament at an average of 34.83. But, mark my word, she is a better player than that. In just one year, she has developed herself into one of the most watchable young women batters in Bengal cricket and the is she can convert those into more big runs, she can surely go the distance.

Read Also | Women's Cricket Exclusive: Durgapur's Bidisha Dey is looking to emerge as an effective all-rounder

7. Adrija Sarkar 

Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future: Adrija Sarka | Sportz Point
Adrija with the player of the match award in the final of BCCI U-15 Women's Tournament. Image | CAB

The youngest in the list, but the most talented one. Adrija Sarkar was discovered during the CAB Women's T20 League where she played for Rajasthan Club at the tender age of just 8. Even at that age, Adrija's pace bowling had impressed former India cricketer Mithu Mukherjee who was astonished to see the young girl's pace at that age.

Five years later, the 13-year-old youngster played a stunning knock of 62 from 63 balls which helped her win the Player of the Match award in the BCCI Women's U-15 One-Day tournament final. Adrija finished the tournament with 209 runs at a strike rate of 112.36 and she was the only batter from Bengal to score a ton in that tournament. 

A few other players who have been impressive as well

Along with these young talents, players like Vishal Bhati, Remondina Khatun, Snigdha Bag, Bidisha Dey, Prativa Mandi, Chandrahas Dash, Debangshu Pakhira and Ashutosh Kumar have been impressive so far in their careers and have the potential to become future stars of Indian cricket. 

Vishal Bhati has been Bengal Men's U-19 team's best all-rounder and was the player of the tournament in Vinoo Mankad Trophy. Along with him, Bengal U-19 captain Chandrahas Dash, Ashutosh Kumar and pace bowling all-rounder Debangshu Pakhira have been splendid so far.

In Women's Cricket, Snigdha Bag, who took 16 wickets in 8 games and Remondina Khatun, who took 8 wickets in the U-15 tournament, have all the features to be a future star. Bengal Women's U-19 captain Bidisha Dey has been in and around the National Cricket Academy and another all-rounder Prativa Mandi, who made her senior debut recently are future prospects as well. 

Next Article

Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance

From Mohammed Shami to the rising talents, discover the full list of Bengal players in IPL 2025 and track down their performance. Let's see how exciting their season have been.

Jun 25, 2025, 12:30 PM5 min read

Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance | sportzpoint.com

Bengal has a deep-rooted passion for cricket, and the IPL offers a great opportunity to have their local talents compete at the highest level. Several players from Bengal were a part of the exciting IPL 2025 season.

Whether through match-winning spells, consistent contribution, or vital innings, their presence was always prominent in the season. Check out the full list and performance of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 along with their on-field impact.

1. Mohammed Shami (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Mohammed Shami is a part of the list of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance | sportzpoint.com
Mohammed Shami in action for SRH during a match in IPL 2025. Image | Sports Tak

Mohammed Shami has been a long-standing and key figure in Bengal's domestic cricketing landscape. After being ruled out of the previous IPL season (2024) due to an ankle injury, he made a comeback this year as Sunrisers Hyderabad's key pick and second-highest buy for ₹10 crore.

Shami had a somewhat mixed IPL 2025 season and struggled with consistency and his lengths. After his stellar Purple Cap-winning season in 2023, his 2025 campaign saw him take 6 wickets in 9 matches, with an economy of 11.25.

However, Shami continued to prove his excellence by becoming the only bowler in IPL history to claim a first-ball wicket 4 times. He achieved the fourth one by dismissing Shaik Rasheed in the SRH vs CSK match in the 2025 season.

Shami IPL 2025 stats:

Matches Balls Wickets BBM Ave Econ
9 180 6 2/28 56.17 11.23

Read Also: Will Sanju Samson join CSK for IPL 2026? Manager's hint fuels mega transfer rumours

2. Abishek Porel (Delhi Capitals)

Abishek Porel is one among the list of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance | sportzpoint.com
Abishek Porel celebrating his half century in a match in IPL 2025. Image | NDTV

Born in Chandannagar, West Bengal, Abishek Porel is a true local and a proud representative of the state. He was retained for ₹4 crore by Delhi Capitals, where he continued to showcase his brilliance as a wicket-keeper batter.

He began this season with a good pace and proved to be vital by accelerating the run flow when needed. He scored 301 runs in 13 matches, which makes him the second-highest scorer for DC this season.

While his form and the team's overall performance had a slight dip towards the latter part of the tournament, his contributions as a top-order batter were undeniable. He proved that he can adapt to different batting positions and do well.

Porel IPL 2025 stats:

Matches Runs Highest Avg BF SR 50 4s 6s
13 301 51 25.08 205 146.83 1 28 12

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

3. Mukesh Kumar (Delhi Capitals)

Mukesh Kumar is a part of the list for Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance | sportzpoint.com
Mukesh Kumar celebrates a wicket in IPL 2025. Image | TOI

Mukesh Kumar is another example of an incredible pacer who plays for Bengal in domestic cricket and has done exceptionally well in the stage of IPL. Following his brilliant 2024 season for DC, he was retained this year for ₹8 crore via RTM (Right to Match).

He proved to be a reliable performer, delivering effective spells in death overs and under pressure. His ability to use variations and bowl yorkers with accuracy made him a key part of the team's bowling unit.

He delivered a standout performance in IPL 2025 against LSG with his 4-wicket haul and great spell, which earned him the POTM award after their victory.

Kumar IPL 2025 stats:

Matches Balls Wickets BBM Ave Econ
12 237 12 4/33 34.00 10.33

Read Also: Top 5 underrated players in IPL 2025

4. Akash Deep (Lucknow Super Giants)

Akash Deep is a part of the list for Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance | sportzpoint.com
Akash Deep celebrates a wicket for LSG in IPL 2025. Image | Instagram

Hailing from Bihar, Akash Deep moved to Bengal to pursue cricket and performed well in the domestic field, then later making it to the India 'A' team. In IPL 2025, he was secured by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹8 crore and played 6 matches.

Akash missed some initial games due to a back injury, and later bounced back to showcase a glimpse of his quality and experience as a fast-medium bowler.

There wasn't any particular "game-changing" performance or moment for him this season, but his contributions were a part of LSG's overall bowling efforts.

Akash IPL 2025 stats:

Matches Balls Wickets BBM Ave Econ
6 114 3 2/55 76.33 12.05

5. Shahbaz Ahmed (Lucknow Super Giants)

Shahbaz Ahmed is a part of Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance | sportzpoint.com
Shahbaz Ahmed in LSG dressing room post-match. Image | Instagram

A keu all-rounder for Bengal's state team, Shahbaz Ahmed was bought for ₹2.4 crore in the mega auction by Lucknow Super Giants. He played a supporting role in IPL 2025 and provided depth in their squad.

He played only 3 matches, where he came out to bat for a single innings and took 1 wicket in the entire season. While the 2025 season did not see any noteworthy performance, his presence in the squad was enough to back then up and bring flexibility as an all-rounder option.

Read Also: Is 2025 the miraculous year in sports history?

Ahmed IPL 2025 stats:

Matches Runs Wickets Avg SR BBM Econ
Batting 3 9 - 9.00 112.50 - -
Bowling 3 - 1 102.00 - 1/41 12.00

Next Article

Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

Former India cricketer Wriddhiman Saha believes Nuruddin Mondal can play for India in future. The 21-year-old pacer is currently the joint highest wicket-taker of the Bengal Pro T20 League.

Jun 21, 2025, 5:46 AM6 min read

Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive
Image | C.A.B.

4 matches, 10 wickets and currently the joint-highest wicket-taker of the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025. 21-year-old Nuruddin Mondal has been the most impressive cricketer in this season's Bengal Pro T20 League. 

His stellar performance impressed former India cricketer Wriddhiman Saha so much that he even went on to say that "he can play for India in future."

But it is not new for him. Coming from a mofussil named Madanpur in Nadia district, Nuruddin has been bowling bouncers to every problem of his life to reach where he is now. The Servotech Siliguri Strikers' pacer shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

How did it all start for Nuruddin Mondal?

Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive
Image | C.A.B.

Away before the Bengal Pro T20 League started, Sportz Point tracked Nuruddin's career since his second-division days. 

Nuruddin started his cricketing career at the age of 8 at Kalyani Municipal Academy, where he learnt the basics of cricket under coach Sanjay Dey. I got to see him bowl many overs on that cement wicket. 

But it was when he caught the attention of coach Debesh Chakrabarty that Nuruddin started progressing in his career. Debesh Chakrabarty is one of the most successful coaches in Bengal, known for producing players such as Sandipan Das, Sudip Gharami, Debopratim Halder, and many others. 

Read Also | Exclusive: Kanishk Seth wants to level up his game to IPL level, remembering the learnings from CSK days

"During the U-18 days, I felt I was faster than bowlers my age"

Nuruddin played in the C.A.B. U-13 and U-16 tournaments for Debesh Chakraborty's club. But when he started playing in the U-18 tournament, he began to feel that he was better and faster than his peers of the same age. 

"I started cricket around the age of 8 or 9 in Kalyani under Khokha Sir (Sanjay Dey). Then Debesh Sir (Chakrabarty) noticed me and since then I have been a student of his," Nuruddin told Sportz Point. 

"Although when I played U-13 or U-16 tournaments I did not feel any difference, during the U-18 tournaments, I started feeling that suddenly I was faster than others my age. It felt different," Nuruddin added. 

Nuruddin comes from a very humble family. His father works as a house painter, and just like every son of the house, he understands the importance of doing well in life. 

"When I felt that my pace had suddenly increased, and I became much stronger physically, I became more confident about my cricketing career," Nur expressed. 

Read Also | Exclusive: Advised by Sourav Ganguly, Abishek Porel gets coached by Yuvraj Singh; this is what he learned

Three years of second division cricket, and then came Calcutta Customs

Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive
Image | C.A.B.

But just like every student of Debesh Chakraborty, Nur also had to go through the ranks of Bengal cricket to prove he was ready for the bigger stages. The young pacer toiled hard for three seasons at Bengal Sporting Club before signing for Calcutta Customs Club. 

Still, it was not that smooth and easy for Nuruddin. He first had to impress one and all with a trial before getting signed by Customs.

"They asked me to go for a trial. I went and bowled well. All the coaches and Nilambar Sir (Saha) were impressed. They wanted me to sign for them."

"Debesh sir told me that even though I might get limited chances, I will learn a lot. So, I signed for them," Nuruddin stated. 

However, those limited chances were good enough for Nuruddin to prove himself. In a season when Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal broke through the doors of the Bengal team from Customs, Nur took advantage of his chances in white ball format. 

"I did well against Town in the T20 Quarter-finals. I bowled two maidens too. Then, did well against Mohun Bagan as well," he expressed. 

Rejections made him better than ever

Nuruddin's impressive spells got him selected for the Bengal U-23 camp, but life wanted to test him more. He failed to get selected for the Bengal U-23 and also missed the Bengal Pro T20 League selection by a whisker. 

In the first season of the league, Nur was a stand-by player for the Adamas Howrah Warriors. But these rejections made him stronger, and he knew in the next season, he would have to punch above his height. 

"Though I was not selected for the Bengal U-23 team and Bengal Pro T20 League, I was sure that I was on the right track," he stated. 

"Bouncers and yorkers are my strength"

Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive
Nuruddin Mondal with Anustup Majumdar. Image | C.A.B.

In the 2024-25 season, Nuruddin worked on every aspect of his bowling and emerged as a 200% better bowler. With 27 wickets across formats, he was one of the best U-23 bowlers of the Kolkata Club Cricket.

During the season, he worked on the bouncer and yorker so much that now he has confidence in bowling it at his will against any batter. 

"I practised them (bouncers and yorkers) so much that now I have the confidence of bowling it against any batter in any situation. Those two balls are my strengths"

Saha: "He can play for India in future"

This earned him a direct spot in the Servotech Siliguri Strikers' team, and the rest, they say, is history. Wriddhiman Saha even mentioned that he has all the capabilities to play for India in future. 

Delighted to hear that from a legend like Saha, Nur wants to keep his head down and take one step at a time.

"When praise comes from a legend like Wriddhiman Saha, obviously, it makes you happy. He did not know me. He saw me bowling for the first time during practice.

"So, this makes it even more special. But, I want to keep my head down and take one step at a time," he conveyed. 

What's next?

So, what is next for Nuruddin Mondal? 

The youngster has a dream of donning that Blue jersey one day. But, for now, he has his eye on the Bengal Pro T20 League trophy and then on that Bengal U-23 jersey. 

"I feel like I need to keep doing what I have been doing well. Focusing on the process is the most important thing."

"But, if you talk about goal or aim, I want to win the Bengal Pro T20 League first, then play for Bengal U-23, then the seniors and hopefully for India in future. I want to climb up the ladder one by one," the youngster concluded. 

Next Article

Young guns at the top, perfect lengths, experience in the middle: Pune Warriors set a T20 blueprint at Women's Maharashtra Premier League

Without many superstars in the team, Pune Warriors won 7 out of 7 games to win the Women's Maharashtra Premier League 2025. Gaanesh Tyagi, the analyst of the team, shared the blueprint of the win with Sportz Point.

Jun 18, 2025, 2:48 PM6 min read

Young guns at the top, perfect lengths, experience in the middle: Pune Warriors set a T20 blueprint at Women's Maharashtra Premier League - sportzpoint.com

Seven out of seven wins. Invincible Pune Warriors defeated all the odds to come out victorious in the Women's Maharashtra Premier League 2025. 

While other franchises had big names, such as Smriti Mandhana, Tejal Hasabnis, and Kiran Navgire, among many other stars of the women's game, Pune Warriors had a clear plan and strategy. 

With only prominent names in Anuja Patil and Shweta Mane, the Pune Warriors Women's team depended on clear thoughts, executions and camaraderie to win the league. Team analyst Gaanesh Tyagi shared all the secrets in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Gaanesh is a high performance analyst from Mumbai, who has worked for more than 10 T20 franchise teams. He was also the analyst of the Mumbai Cricket team, which won their first ever Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in 2023.

The team combination: All-rounders, effectiveness and youth

Young guns at the top, perfect lengths, experience in the middle: Pune Warriors set a T20 blueprint at Women's Maharashtra Premier League - sportzpoint.com

Even before stepping onto the field to win the tournament, teams must first succeed in a different battle during the draft or auction. This is where many teams secure half of their victory. Women’s cricket has different demands than men’s cricket, and in T20 cricket, the need for strong all-rounders reaches its peak. 

With captain Anuja Patil being the perfect all-rounder for the team, the coaching staff opted for additional all-rounders to effectively manage the middle overs. 

"The entire coaching staff and captain Anuja Patil were involved in building the team. We aimed to have more all-rounders while also featuring skilled individuals for every situation in the game,” Gaanesh explained to Sportz Point. 

Read Also: In a first, 10 UAE batters retire out in ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025

The roadmap and planning

During their initial meeting with the players, captain Anuja and the coaching staff discussed a comprehensive plan for winning the tournament. This provided every player with a clear roadmap and clarity on how they needed to prepare for each aspect of the game.

"In that first meeting, we talked about how we should be winning the tournament. Each player knew their role within the team, which helped provide a clear roadmap for everyone,” Gaanesh added.

Read Also: Exclusive: Bowls like Malinga, once doubted by her family, Nadia's Sonali Das is set for Bengal Pro T20 League dreams after 8-wicket haul in School Cricket

"Bowlers win you tournaments"

This phrase has become quite popular in world cricket. Even in the Indian Premier League, the team with the superior bowling combination often performs better. Analysts play a crucial role here by offering insights on optimal lengths, lines, speeds, and determining who should bowl at various stages of the game.

For Pune Warriors, prior to each match, analysts would provide each bowler with a specific plan to tackle all potential batters they might face.

"In women’s cricket, understanding lengths is crucial. Knowing what length to bowl against which batter is key. We had strategies for each opponent.

"So, it was all about execution on the field, which our bowlers accomplished successfully. That’s why we had two bowlers, Chinmayee Bhorpale (the Purple Cap winner) and Anuja Patil, in the top five highest wicket-takers list," Gaanesh stated. 

Anuja Patil- the Boss Lady

Anuja Patil- the Boss Lady - Women's Maharashtra Premier League 2025 exclusive - sportzpoint.com
Image - WMPL on X.

When you have a young and relatively inexperienced team, it’s essential to have someone who can guide each player. Just as the Rajasthan Royals had Shane Warne, Pune Warriors had Anuja Patil. 

Anuja, who has played 50 T20Is for the Indian national team, possesses the knowledge necessary to win cricket matches. With her leadership, every young player learned how to approach each match to achieve victory.

"We affectionately called her the 'Boss Lady.'

The entire team respected and followed her decisions. In tournaments like this, a clear direction is crucial, and Anuja provided the guidance we needed with her experience."

Read Also: Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

The Mix of Youth and Experience

Balancing the mix of youth and experience in team building can be challenging. Some players on the squad were born after Anuja and Shweta Mane began their cricket careers.

There was a noticeable gap in age and experience, so the team needed to blend these elements effectively to perform at their best.

Both Anuja and Mane acted as both friends and firm mentors, fostering a harmonious environment that brought out the best in young players like 17-year-old Akshaya Jadhav, 16-year-old Suhani Kahandal, and U-23 player Khushi Mulla, who ended up being the fourth-highest run-scorer of the tournament.

"Youth at the top and experince in the middle"

Although the powerplay and death overs seem to be entertaining, it is the middle overs that decide the winner in a T20 game. Be it with the bat or ball, the 7-15 overs of a T20I game are the most crucial overs.

That is why Pune Warriors had the plan of having the most experienced players playing the middle order, be it with the bat or ball. 

That even allowed youngsters like Khushi Mulla, Suhani Kahandal and Akshaya Jadhav to have the freedom to enjoy the game. 

"The middle overs control the outcome of the game. We even saw Smriti Mandhana batting in the middle order for Ratnagiri Jets. So, from the start of the tournament, we wanted to have experince in the middle overs and youth at the top," Gaanesh explained. 

"Discipline, calmness and execution"

Winning all seven of your games is a significant challenge, and in T20 cricket, it’s nearly impossible to maintain that momentum throughout.

However, according to Gaanesh, if the team maintains discipline, calmness, and focuses on execution, the chances of not losing become greater.

He recounted the last over of the final match against Solapur Smashers: “We needed to defend 9 from 6 and it became 4 from 4. But we kept calm under pressure and executed well to win the title.”

What's next?

Whenever a team without many superstars win any tournament, there comes a question of whether they will be able to continue that in the next season. We have seen it with the Rajasthan Royals in the past as well.

Since winning the inaugural season, they have not been able to win any trophies. What's the secret sauce to keep winning? 

"Process," Gaanesh said. 

He feels all the youngsters who got a bit of fame and name from this season need to aim for bigger goals and achievements. This is how they will be able to keep them ready for next season. Most importantly, they need to focus on the process which has given them results.

Next Article

ICC ODI Rankings: Smriti Mandhana reclaims world No. 1 spot for the first time in six years

Indian star opener Smriti Mandhana has returned to the world no. 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings for the first time in six years.

Jun 17, 2025, 10:32 AM2 min read

ICC ODI Rankings: Smriti Mandhana reclaims world No. 1 spot for the first time in six years

Indian star opener Smriti Mandhana has regained the number one spot in the women's ICC ODI rankings for the first time since November 2019, according to the latest update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday.

Also Read: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

Mandhana surpassed Wolvaardt to claim top spot

The 28-year-old Mandhana has moved up one place to return to the top spot while South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has slipped to joint second place with new England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt after scoring 27 and 28 in the first two ODIs against the West Indies.

Mandhana now sits comfortably with 727 rating points after Wolvaardt held the top spot for over six months. The Indian star batsman has been in great form lately and scored the 11th century of her career, amassing 264 runs across five outings with a 52.80 averae and a strike rate of 90.41 during India's recent tri-series final against Sri Lanka and South Africa in Colombo.

Mandhana named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

The India vice-captain had a stellar run in ODIs in 2024, following which she was named as the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year, scoring more runs than she ever has before in a calendar year, racking up 747 runs in 13 innings. Mandhana is one of only four women to record at least 10 centuries, with her 4473 runs standing 10th on the all-time charts.

Mandhana’s rating points currently eight ahead of newly-appointed England skipper Natalie Sciver-Brunt at 719 points. Wolvaardt dropped to equal second alongside Sciver-Brunt, while fellow South African’s Tazmin Brits (up five spots to 27th) and Sune Luus (up seven places to 42nd) are among the big movers this week on the list for ODI batters.

Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, being the only other Indian batters in the top 30, placed at 15th and 16th, respectively.

Women's ICC ODI Rankings

Rank Team Players Rating
1 India Smriti
Mandhana
727
2 England Nat Sciver-Brunt 719
2 South Africa Laura Wolvaardt 719
4 England Amy Jones 689
5 Australia Ellyse Perry 684
6 West Indies Hayley Matthews 682
7 Australia Alyssa Healy 679
8 Sri Lanka Chamari Athapaththu 655
8 Australia Beth Mooney 655
10 Australia Ashleigh Gardner 650

Next Article

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 schedule was revealed on Monday, with hosts India and Sri Lanka slated to play the opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on September 30.

Jun 16, 2025, 10:42 AM3 min read

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

The schedule of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has been released. The Women's World Cup will begin on September 30 with hosts India playing their first match against Sri Lanka at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Also Read: BCCI announce Indian women's squad for ODI and T20I series against England

The eight-team tournament will be a round-robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. The much-awaited final will be played on November 2. Australia will begin their campaign against New Zealand on October 1 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

India vs Pakistan Match details

Due to tension between India and Pakistan, Pakistan will play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the hybrid hosting model agreed upon by BCCI and PCB. In such a situation, the teams playing with Pakistan including India will go to Colombo, which is a neutral venue.

The most awaited match of the group stage between India and Pakistan will be played on 5th October in Colombo.

Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Venues

  • India : Bengaluru, Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam 
  • Sri Lanka : Colombo

The tournament will be held at five major venues in the two countries. Bengaluru and Colombo have been shortlisted as potential hosts for the final.

Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Full Schedule

Day/Date Match Venue Time
Tuesday, September 30 India vs Sri Lanka Bengaluru 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 1 Australia vs New Zealand Indore 3:00 PM
Thursday, October 2 Bangladesh vs Pakistan Colombo 3:00 PM
Friday, October 3 England vs South Africa Bengaluru 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 4 Australia vs Sri Lanka Colombo 3:00 PM
Sunday, October 5 India vs Pakistan Colombo 3:00 PM
Monday, October 6 New Zealand vs South Africa Indore 3:00 PM
Tuesday, October 7 England vs Bangladesh Guwahati 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 8 Australia vs Pakistan Colombo 3:00 PM
Thursday, October 9 India vs South Africa Vizag 3:00 PM
Friday, October 10 New Zealand vs Bangladesh Vizag 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 11 England vs Sri Lanka Guwahati 3:00 PM
Sunday, October 12 India vs Australia Vizag 3:00 PM
Monday, October 13 South Africa vs Bangladesh Vizag 3:00 PM
Tuesday, October 14 New Zealand vs Sri Lanka Colombo 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 15 England vs Pakistan Colombo 3:00 PM
Thursday, October 16 Australia vs Bangladesh Vizag 3:00 PM
Friday, October 17 South Africa vs Sri Lanka Colombo 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 18 New Zealand vs Pakistan Colombo 3:00 PM
Sunday, October 19 India vs England Indore 3:00 PM
Monday, October 20 Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Colombo 3:00 PM
Tuesday, October 21 South Africa vs Pakistan Colombo 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 22 Australia vs England Indore 3:00 PM
Thursday, October 23 India vs New Zealand Guwahati 3:00 PM
Friday, October 24 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Colombo 3:00 PM
Saturday, October 25 Australia v Sri Lanka Indore 3:00 PM
Sunday, October 26 England vs New Zealand Guwahati 3:00 PM
Sunday, October 26 India vs Bangladesh Bengaluru 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 29 Semifinal 1 (TBA) Guwahati/Colombo 3:00 PM
Thursday, October 30 Semifinal 2 (TBA) Bengaluru 3:00 PM
Sunday, 2 November Final (TBA) Colombo/Bengaluru 3:00 PM

Next Article

Latest Stories

Subscribe Newsletter

Get the latest sports updates and news delivered directly to your inbox.