Fit-again Renuka Thakur back to spearheading India's pace attack

Renuka Thakur knew that to achieve the breakthrough performance she was aiming for, a conversation with the legendary Jhulan Goswami was necessary.

- Samreen Razzaqui

NEW DELHI:

The last time an Indian pacer took a five-wicket haul in women's ODIs was back in 2011, when Jhulan delivered a stunning 6/31 against New Zealand at Southgate. Renuka ended the long wait for another with her remarkable 5/29 against West Indies in the first ODI at Vadodara on Sunday.

"I have been playing T20s a lot and all the cricket to come now is ODIs; I spoke to Jhulan di for that. She advised that the more I bowl in the same spot, the more effective it will be," said Player-of-the-Match Thakur at the post-match presentation.

Pressure had been mounting on Thakur and the rest of the Indian bowling unit. A clean sweep by Australia in ODIs, fierce competition for spots, and the looming ODI World Cup added to the intensity of the moment, but all Thakur could express and talk about was the joy of it all.