Shikha Pandey

Shikha Pandey:

In the Indian Women’s Team, there are a lot of miracles. Shikha Pandey is one of them. Despite being an Indian Air Force officer, she represents the country at the highest level. The right-arm medium pacer played several match-winning spells in her career. Her bowling is always a sigh of relief. 

History:

Shikha Pandey was born on 12 May, 1989. Pandey’s educational journey started under the Central Board of Secondary Education in India. Remarkably, at just 15 years old, she made history as the first player affiliated with the state board to represent India. The pivotal moment came when Surekha Bhandare, a former Mumbai player and selector, identified her potential for future stardom. 

Despite achieving the state-wide third rank in her class-ten board exams, Pandey initially shifted her focus to studies for three years. However, her passion for cricket reignited during her second year as an undergraduate in Electronics and Electrical Engineering, marking the beginning of her serious pursuit of the sport.

Upon graduating from Goa College of Engineering in 2010, Pandey found herself at a crossroads. Despite receiving tempting offers from three multinational companies, she boldly turned them down. Instead, she made a daring choice to step away from the corporate world and dedicate an entire year to pursuing her passion for cricket wholeheartedly.

Representing the national side of India, Shikha Pandey made her impactful debut across formats. Her journey commenced with the Test format on August 13, 2014, against England, where she earned her cap number 78. Soon after, she stepped into the One Day Internationals (ODIs) arena, receiving cap number 112 on August 21, 2014, again facing England. 

Shikha’s entry into the Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) was marked on March 9, 2014, against Bangladesh, donning cap number 48. These memorable debuts marked the beginning of her exciting international cricket career, leaving a lasting impression on the cricketing landscape.

Teams:

Pandey’s cricket journey began at an early age when she earned a spot in Goa’s team at just 15 in 2004. By the time she turned 17 for the 2007–08 domestic season, she stepped up to represent Goa’s Women Senior State Side. In the Rani Jhansi Trophy, a notable inter-state two-day tournament, Pandey showcased her skills with a remarkable four-wicket haul. 

Her consistent performances for Goa caught the selectors’ attention, leading to her inclusion in India’s tour of Bangladesh after the 2013–14 Inter-State T20 tournament (Plate group). This paved the way for her participation in the 2014 ICC Women’s World Twenty20, marking a significant milestone in her cricketing journey.

Pandey played a key role in India’s victory against South Africa on November 26, 2014. Not only did she impress with the ball, taking three crucial wickets, but she also made a significant contribution with the bat by scoring an impressive 59 runs. Her all-around performance was instrumental in securing the win for the team.

In nine matches played in IPl, Pandey showcased her versatility, contributing with both bat and ball. While she scored 39 runs with a striking rate of 114.70, her highest score of 27* against MI demonstrated her ability to anchor the innings when needed. With the ball, she proved to be a valuable asset, taking a total of 10 wickets at an impressive strike rate of 19.20. 

Although she didn’t register any maidens, her bowling average of 21.10 and economy rate of 6.59 underscored her effectiveness in containing the opposition’s scoring. Pandey’s consistent performances in various aspects of the game highlighted her impact on the field.

Achievements and Awards:

Following in the footsteps of Dilip Sardesai, Pandey achieved the historic distinction of being the first player from Goa to represent any Indian national team. Notably, she holds the title of being the inaugural cricketer affiliated with the Goa Cricket Association to participate in international-level cricket for India.

Pandey played a crucial role in the Indian team that reached the final of the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup. Unfortunately, the team faced a close defeat against England by nine runs in the final match.

Shikha boasts a unique record as the first Indian woman cricketer to achieve a half-century and claim three wickets in a single match, a feat she accomplished against South Africa in 2014.

Stats:

In the challenging realm of Women’s Test cricket, Shikha Pandey has featured in three matches, contributing with both bat and ball. With a highest score of 28* and a batting average of 18.33. Transitioning to the One Day Internationals (ODIs), Pandey’s impact has been substantial in 55 matches. With a notable batting average of 20.48, she amassed 512 runs, including a highest score of 59. In the dynamic world of Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is), Pandey has played 62 matches. While showcasing her skills with both bat and ball, she has accumulated 208 runs at an average of 13.00.

Batting Stats:

Bowling Stats: