Gujarat Giants’ promising young all-rounder Tanuja Kanwer made her T20I debut for India with a typically frugal spell against UAE in the ongoing Women’s Asia Cup. This marks a significant milestone in her fledgling cricketing career. This was the culmination of years of dedication and hard work in both domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Tanuja’s cricket journey began in Shimla, where she played cricket with boys during the school lunch break. Initially, she bowled medium pace. Recognizing her talent, her father enrolled her in the only cricket academy in Dharamshala. Tanuja quickly rose through the ranks and earned a spot on the Himachal Pradesh Under-19 team as a medium-pace bowler. However, her coach soon suggested she switch to spin bowling, a change that would prove pivotal in her career.

From an early age, Tanuja idolized Yuvraj Singh, drawing inspiration from his achievements and style of play. She started her professional career with Himachal Pradesh before moving to the Railways team, known for producing notable players like Mithali Raj, Neetu David, and Nooshin Al Khadeer. Her move to Railways proved a successful one and she soon became a key player under her Railways captain Sneh Rana. It was a partnership that would continue in the WPL too.

A hot prospect during the 2023 WPL Auction, Tanuja had been impressive by taking three wickets for 26 runs in the domestic One-Day Trophy final. Throughout the tournament, she claimed 18 wickets at an impressive bowling average of 11.16 and an economy rate of 2.43. This performance earned her a spot in the Gujarat Giants squad, and she played all eight games in the first WPL season, taking five wickets.

Tanuja’s big-game temperament set her apart. After an impressive debut season, she became a standout player in WPL Season 2. She ended that season as the highest wicket-taker for her team and joint-fourth overall, with 10 wickets. Her resilience and ability to learn from her experiences were evident when, after conceding 23 runs in eight balls to Shafali Verma, she studied Verma’s weaknesses and dismissed her in their next encounter.

In the WPL, Tanuja was entrusted with bowling during critical phases - the Powerplay and death overs. Out of the 29 overs she bowled in the tournament, 16 were in these high-pressure situations. She impressed by conceding just 7.5 runs per over in the death overs, the joint third-best performance behind Sophie Molineux and Shreyanka Patil.

Tanuja’s outstanding performances in domestic cricket and the WPL brought her into the spotlight, leading to her selection as a reserve for the Women’s Asia Cup. An injury to Shreyanka Patil then opened the door for Tanuja to join the main squad. She made an immediate impact in her debut against the UAE Women’s team, opening the bowling and taking 1 wicket for just 14 runs in her four overs.

Tanuja’s journey from playing cricket in Shimla to representing India on the international stage is a testament to her hard work, determination, and passion for the game.