After a commanding 59-run victory in the first ODI, India Women are preparing for the second game of the series against New Zealand Women at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. India’s bowlers, particularly the spinners, were outstanding in defending 227 in the opener. However, fans are increasingly concerned about the form of their lead fast bowler, Renuka Singh Thakur, who went wicketless, conceding 30 runs in seven overs.
Renuka has played 12 ODIs so far, taking 20 wickets at an economy rate of 4.79. Her debut year in 2022 was exceptional; in seven innings, she took 18 wickets with an economy of 4.62 — all in away conditions. Yet, over the past two years on home grounds, her performance has declined, with only two wickets in five innings at an economy of 5.08 and a strike-rate of 105.0.
It appears that opposition batters are now reading her variations, and she has struggled to create the same deception. Renuka is known for her deceptive inswingers with the new ball, especially during Powerplays. But, producing that early swing requires some help from the conditions. This may explain why she achieved her best results in England, where she took eight wickets in just two matches at an economy of 4.30 and a strike rate of 15.0 — conditions ideal for swing bowlers.
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However, Renuka’s challenge has been her inability to take wickets consistently on home soil. With India set to host the 50-over World Cup next year, the team will aim to perform well in front of the home fans. By then, with more experience, Renuka is expected to be a key player and leader of the bowling unit. This makes it crucial for her to crack the code to wicket-taking in India.
Regardless of the game format, early wickets always give a team a valuable boost, putting immediate pressure on opponents. In T20Is, Renuka has been outstanding, both in taking wickets and maintaining a low economy rate. During the recent T20 World Cup, she took seven wickets in four games at an economy rate of 5.62.
She was expected to carry this momentum into the ODI series but struggled in the opening game. If India are to succeed, her form will be essential. Over the past two years, Pooja Vastrakar has been India’s most effective pacer in this format, with seven wickets in six games at an economy rate of 5.97. However, Vastrakar is unavailable for this series due to an injury, making Renuka’s role even more critical along with the debutant Saima Thakor.
Fans will be hoping Renuka steps up to lead the unit, beginning with an improved performance tomorrow.
Also Read: India’s bowlers shine in 59-run win over New Zealand in first ODI