Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Jan 24: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and speed bowler Renuka Singh are three Indian cricketers who are included in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year, which was unveiled on Tuesday. Mandhana, who on Monday produced a breezy unbeaten 74 against the West Indies Women in a T20 Tri-series encounter, has demonstrated exceptional consistency, contributing to a century and six half-centuries for the year 2022.
The left-handed batter, who is 26 years old, started the year strong with a superb 123 against the West Indies in the World Cup in New Zealand. Then, in September at Hove, he followed it up with a 91 against England, before again smashing 40 and 50 to close out the year in style.
In the course of the year, India’s captain Harmanpreet scored two hundreds and five half-centuries, with her unbroken 143 against England in September serving as the year’s high point.
Renuka, a pacer who made her ODI debut in early 2018 but was unable to make the India XI for their disappointing 50-over World Cup campaign in New Zealand, picked up 18 wickets from seven matches in 2022, with her best of 4/28 coming against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in the middle of the year.
The right-arm bowler, who is 26 years old, concluded the 2022 season as one of the most effective seamers in women’s cricket after excelling at the T20I level and earning a spot in the ODI team.
With back-to-back four-wicket hauls against England in September, she ended the year on a strong note and showed why she will likely be India’s backbone going forward.
On terms of the number of players in the ICC ODI team, South Africa is tied with the Indians. Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail, and prolific run-scorer Laura Wolvaardt, all members of the Proteas, are listed.
Alyssa Healy, the opening batter for Australia, who was instrumental in the team winning the ODI World Cup championship in New Zealand last year, is also included on the list. The opener led Australia to victory by smashing 129 against the West Indies in the semifinals and 170 against England in the championship match.
ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney (Australia), Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Renuka Singh (India), Laura Wolvaardt, Ayabonga Khaka, Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Nat Sciver, Sophie Ecclestone (England), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand).
