Satheesh Shubha has risen to the occasion on her Test debut (IND vs ENG). The 24-year-old batter from Karnataka walked in after India lost Smriti Mandhana in the 6th over. However, instead of looking nervous, the left-hander oozed confidence. Soon after, Shafali Varma also departed, and the onus to dig India out of trouble fell on her and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Instead of getting bogged out, the debutant decided to take the game on. By the end of the 24 over, Satheesh Shubha had not only reached her maiden half-century (off 49 balls) but had created a record as well.
The middle-order batter showed her proficiency in rotating the strike and her impulse to pull the trigger when needed. Her 49-ball fifty saw her become just the 4th player to score a fifty in less than 50 balls.
Fastest 50 in Women’s Test cricket
- 40 balls – Sangita Dabir – India vs England, 1995
- 40 balls – Vanessa Bowen – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1998
- 48 balls – Nat Sciver-Brunt – England v Australia, 2022
- 49 balls – Satheesh Shubha – India v England, 2023
- 51 balls – Smriti Mandhana – India v Australia, 2021
Satheesh Shubha and her WPL deal
People may think they have heard that name before. Well, you are not wrong. Shubha was in the news on December 9 after she was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for 10 lakh in the WPL 2024 auction. Along with RCB-W skipper Smriti Mandhana, the 24-year-old can make the franchise her home and bring them success in the coming decade.
IND vs ENG Women Test: Playing XIs
India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia(w), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Thakur Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia(w), Sneh Rana, Shubha Satheesh, Pooja Vastrakar, Renuka Thakur Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad