Born on 1st June 1991 in Bijapur, Karnataka is current Test, ODI and T20 International player for India, Rajeshwari Shivanand Gayakwad.
Rajeshwari is a left-arm slow bowler and right-hand batter, and made her First Class debut for Karnataka in 2007/08. The following season she made her List A (50 over) and T20 debut for the state.
In 2013/14 she made her international debut for the Women in Blue in both ODI and T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka. She immediately opened her wicket tally with 2-11 and 3-24 respectively.
In 2014 tragedy struck. Rajeshwari’s father passed away, leaving behind a wife and five daughters. It left the young spin bowler as the sole breadwinner for the family and they have since struggled, moving from one rental property to the next.
“We have been continuously changing houses. My daughter is a successful international cricketer but we still don’t own a house,” Rajeshwari’s Mother told Times of India.
She has played one Test, against South Africa in 2014/15 taking 5-80 for match with a best of 4-54. You could just about guarantee she’ll be playing another Test match in 15 days from now.
In ODIs she has played 45 which includes the 2017 World Cup and taken 75 wickets at 17.70. She has played in 31 T20 Internationals taking 39 wickets at 18.10. Her best of 3-9 was against South Africa at Lucknow in March 2021.
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