Asha Sobhana Joy, a 32-year-old versatile cricketer hailing from Kerala, recently made history by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim a fifer in consecutive seasons of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Her remarkable achievement came during the 2024 WPL season opener for RCB against UP Warriorz, where she not only secured five wickets but also clinched the prestigious Player of the Match accolade.
Asha, valued at 10 lakhs in the previous season’s auction, showcased her prowess by snatching five wickets across five matches with an economy rate of 8.35. Asha’s journey in cricket commenced with a momentous inspiration from Sachin Tendulkar’s iconic innings in Sharjah. Witnessing Tendulkar’s breathtaking performance against Australia fueled her ambition to pursue cricket.
Her exposure to women’s cricket began with watching Neetu David bowl in an international match aired on Doordarshan. At the tender age of 12, Asha clandestinely attended her first district cricket trials, unbeknownst to her parents. It was during these trials that she crossed paths with the late Shabina Jacob, former captain of the Kerala Women’s cricket team, who played a pivotal role in mentoring and nurturing Asha’s talent.
Shabina’s guidance and support, both on and off the field, laid the foundation for Asha’s career. Initially starting as a pace bowler, Asha’s transition to leg spin occurred serendipitously under the keen observation of her coach. Her debut for the senior Kerala team transpired at just 14 years old, followed by selection to the South Zone and Challengers teams at 16 and 19, respectively.
Despite being named among the probables for the West Indies tour, Asha narrowly missed the final squad. However, her standout performances in the 2012–13 T20 season earned her a spot in the Railways team, where she flourished for over a decade, securing the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in 2019.
In 2022, Asha departed from Railways due to limited playing opportunities and ventured into commentary for a men’s T20 tournament in Puducherry. There, she crossed paths with Shweta Mishra, her former India Under-19 teammate and current Puducherry coach, who persuaded her to join the team. Asha’s captaincy stint with Puducherry in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2022 showcased her leadership skills, although the team fell short of qualification after defeating Chandigarh, Saurashtra, and Mumbai losing to Bengal.
Asha’s standout performance as the leading wicket-taker for Puducherry in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy 2023, where she claimed 16 wickets at an impressive average of 11.62, garnered attention from former cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who offered coaching assistance pro bono.
Renowned cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle also praised Asha’s skills, speculating a potential call-up to the Indian team soon. Given her consistent performances, an India call-up appears imminent, raising hopes for Asha’s future in international cricket.
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