Asha Sobhana made history as the first Malayali woman to play in a Women’s Cricket World Cup match, on Friday.
In India’s opening T20 World Cup game against New Zealand in Dubai, the 33-year-old leg-spinner from Thiruvananthapuram took a wicket and scored six runs, though India fell short by 58 runs while chasing 160/4.
Asha’s World Cup debut was marked by her economical bowling, finishing with figures of 1/22 from four overs.
She claimed the wicket of Georgia Plimmer, who was well-set on 34 runs, dismissing her in the first ball of Asha’s second over.
Her celebration for the wicket, mimicking the ‘binoculars’ gesture made famous by Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, reflected her love for the English Premier League club.
Asha had already made headlines earlier in the year with a remarkable 12-wicket haul in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), including a five-wicket performance.
Her success in the WPL earned her a call-up to the Indian team in April, with her T20I debut following in May.
Ahead of the World Cup, Asha expressed her excitement: “I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life. It’s a big moment for me and my family,” she shared in an interview released by the BCCI.
Asha’s teammate, S Sajana from Wayanad, is also part of India’s World Cup squad.