Seamless International Cricket Transition for Shubha in IND W vs ENG W Test.
IND W vs ENG W Test : Shubha Satheesh exhibits a seamless transition to international cricket in the India Women vs. England Women Test, showcasing her prowess and adaptability on the global stage.
From being dismissed on 99 by long-time friend Jemimah Rodrigues to making her Test debut, Karnataka's Shubha Satheesh has seamlessly transitioned from domestic to international cricket. The 24-year-old from Mysore, who started playing at the age of 12 without a specific goal of representing India, showcased her prowess with the bat on the first day of the India Women's one-off Test against England. Despite a whirlwind couple of weeks, her journey, which she describes as a "process," finally led her to don the Indian Test cap after 12 years of dedicated effort.
Within just one week, Shubha not only received a call-up from the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the Women's Premier League but also made an impactful Test debut, becoming the 12th Indian batter to score a fifty on debut. Her innings concluded at 69 off 76 balls, marked by an aggressive playing style with 13 fours. However, this fearless approach did not surprise her mentor Rajath Sathish in Mysore.
Describing Shubha as a confident individual from the beginning, Sathish mentioned, Every time she goes to bat, she plays aggressively." Shubha's cricket journey began in the 2014-15 batch, progressing through the ranks from Karnataka under-19 and under-23 to the senior team within three to four years.
In Mysore's cricket circles, Shubha is affectionately known as Dada, not in relation to former India captain Sourav Ganguly but in homage to the late Kannada movie actor Vishnuvardhan. Sathish explained, "We call her 'Dada' in Mysore. She used to follow Vishnuvardhan, the film actor. (In fact) her role model is Vishnuvardhan.
Reflecting on Shubha's family background, Sathish shared that her retired father, who once worked at Bharat Earth Movers Limited and was a tennis-ball player, could have attended her debut game if it had taken place in Karnataka. He added, "Her father was also a tennis-ball player during his time. He used to come to our academy, and for two or three years, he would guide her regarding her batting.
The left-handed batter, known for her consistent performances in domestic cricket, notably finished fourth in the 2021 Women's Senior One-Day Trophy with an impressive tally of 346 runs in six matches at an average of 86.50, including four fifties. In the subsequent season, she continued her strong showing, making 263 runs in seven matches with three fifties at an average of 43.83.
Expressing her gratitude for the India call-up, Shubha shared, "It has been quite a journey for me; I have been in domestic cricket for 6-7 years now. Getting an India call-up was living in a dream sort of thing.
According to her mentor Sathish, Shubha's impactful knock of 99 during an intra-squad match in the Indian training camp in Bengaluru played a crucial role in her selection for the Test team. He highlighted her all-around abilities, mentioning her brilliance as a fielder.
Former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy commended Shubha's skills and temperament at the highest level, emphasizing that her innings of 99 drew attention from selectors. Rangaswamy also underscored the importance of more red-ball opportunities for women cricketers to enhance their skills and technique.
Acknowledging Shubha's maiden Test innings, legendary Mithali Raj expressed her admiration, stating, Very impressed by this left-hander. Shubha Satheesh, playing her first match for India today, has demonstrated excellent composure and temperament at the crease. Looking forward to more such innings from her, well played.
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