Year's delivery leads to dream debut for Saika

Left-arm spinner used WPL as a launchpad to make national bow

- GOMESH S

WHEN Saika Ishaque received her India cap from captain Harmanpreet Kaur moments before the first T20I against England at Wankhede on Wednesday, the joy on her face was enough to express what it meant to her. Slightly behind her was Shreyanka Patil, the other debutant, who was cheering on with a beaming smile on her face. The two spinners who were the highlight of the inaugural Women's Premier League were making their India debuts on the same day.

While Shreyanka's coach Arjun Dev was watching from the stands, thousands of miles away in Kolkata, there were two people who were overjoyed by the success of Saika. Mithu Mukherjee and Shibsagar Singh. Former India cricketer Mithu had no words to express the emotions and Singh was overwhelmed by the shining moment of Saika.

After all, the two of them had played a big role at a crucial point in Saika's career when almost left the sport.

Having come up through age-group cricket at the domestic level, Saika was a household name in Bengal cricketing circles. However, a shoulder injury meant things went downhill fast and she was dropped from the state team.