Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have had an unfortunate start to their Women’s Premier League (WPL) season, losing their first five games in a row. Although RCB has been eliminated from the competition, they are still looking to put up a good show in their final match against the Mumbai Indians. But they have found a ray of hope in Kanika Ahuja – the all-rounder from Punjab. Kanika was inspirational in RCB’s first win of the season when she walked into bat during a tricky situation and scored 46 off just 30 balls to help her team cross the line. She has been one of the biggest positives of this inaugural season of the WPL. Look at 3 reasons she could be the next big thing in Indian cricket.
#1 She can contribute with off-spin
Kanika Ahuja is a valuable asset for the team, not just as an off-spinner but also in other aspects. Although she hasn’t bowled an over in this tournament yet, her contributions with the ball in the Senior Women’s T20 and ODI Challengers Trophy in the last couple of years are highly commendable.
#2 Being a left-handed batter, she is an advantage
India’s batting lineup is packed with right-handed batters, making Deepti Sharma’s consistent presence in the middle order a valuable asset. Yastika Bhatia is often seen moving in and out of the side, giving the team a left-handed batter more suited to the middle-order role. Moreover, Kanika’s inclusion offers an extra bowling option, making her a great asset to the team.
#3 She can play 360-degree shots
Kanika’s range of shots gives her an edge over many other high-potential batters. In her match against UP Warriorz, she showcased this ability with clever ramps and some powerful slogs to the leg side. She has openly cited Suryakumar Yadav as an inspiration, which is immediately evident in her play.