Renuka Singh walks away with ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year

When Jhulan Goswami called it a day in international cricket, there were plenty of questions about India’s offering of another fast bowler who would actually spook the opposition with a fiery brand of display and lead the Indian mantle of quicks. However, even before India could realise that their future was already in safe hands, budding sensation, Renuka Singh Thakur was rattling timbre at will, spearheading the Indian charge.

Surpassing Darcie Brown, Alice Capsey and fellow national teammate, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh was ennobled with the probity of the ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2022.

Staging an impeccable show throughout the year, Renuka Singh bagged 40 wickets for India from just 29 matches across ODIs and T20Is. She claimed 18 scalps at an average of 14.88 while registering 23 wickets from 25 matches in the shortest format of the game.

In India’s seven meetings with Australia, Renuka proved to be a substantial element in the Indian echelons, bagging 8 wickets. Showcasing her prowess for the big games, in the combined 11 fixtures of Asia Cup and Commonwealth Games, she notched up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 5.21.

A sizzling highlight for what proved to be a brilliant year for the rising Indian quick, Renuka hammered a four-fer against the reckoning Australians in the Commonwealth Games. Her exploits included that of Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath.