5 interesting facts about Tanuja Kanwar, the Indian spinner debuting in Women's Asia Cup clash vs UAE
The Indian women's team have a debutant in the form of left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar for their 2024 Women's Asia Cup Group Stage clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She received her national cap from Renuka Singh Thakur ahead of the contest in Dambulla on Sunday, July 21.
Tanuja Kanwar, who has performed consistently in the domestic circuit for years, was not initially selected for the Indian squad. However, an injury to Shreyanka Patil after the first match forced India to make a change for the rest of the campaign.
She not only made the squad, but straightaway made it to the playing Xi as wellhead of fellow capped leg-spinner Asha Sobhana in the squad. She will soon have her first spell as a international cricketer after India were put into bat by the UAE.
The Women in Blue smashed their highest score in the shortest format, leaving the bowlers plenty to defend. Kanwar, as a result, has the luxury of bowling without the pressure of the run rate, and only has to deal with the debut jitters.
On that note, let us take a look at five interesting facts about Tanuja Kanwar.
#1 She was the most expensive uncapped acquisition at the inaugural WPL Auction
The inaugural WPL auction ahead of the 2023 season sprang up several surprises, with several international reputed players being unsold or being roped in the accelerated round. Among those, another major surprise that went under the radar was the Gujarat Giants (GG) acquiring the uncapped Kanwar's services for INR 50 Lakh.
She entered the auction with a base price of INR 10 Lakh, and drew a bid from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) upfront, but it was GG who won the war. She ended up being the most expensive uncapped player at the auction after being sold for five times her base price.
#2 She took the first-ever wicket in WPL history
Tanuja Kanwar scripted history in the inaugural match of the 2023 Women's Premier League (WPL) by becoming the first bowler to take a wicket in the competition. Representing the Gujarat Giants (GG), she dismissed Mumbai Indians (MI) opener Yastika Bhatia in the third over of the match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
She finished with figures of 1-12 off two overs in her first match, and was one of the most economical bowlers on display as MI went on to smash 207/5 in the first innings.
#3 She switched from Himachal Pradesh to Railways in 2020
Born in Himachal Pradesh, Kanwar played junior cricket in the state before making a defining switch to Railways in 2020. The latter is arguably the most dominant team in the women's domestic circuit, having produced several famous cricketers.
Kawar benefitted from the stint, being among the wickets in the domestic T20 and ODI tournament, leading to the eventual opportunity in the WPL and the national cap.
#4 She began her career as a medium pacer
Interestingly, she started off as a medium pacer, but switched to spin bowling upon her coach's suggestion because of her small frame and lack of pace.
"When I used to play with the Cosco ball [in gully cricket], I used to bowl spin along with medium pace and I picked up a lot of wickets when I bowled spin there," Kanwar said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
#5 She was GG's leading wicket-taker in WPL 2024
Tanuja Kanwar had a decent first season with GG in the WPL, where she picked up five wickets in eight matches with an economy rate of 8.85. However, her second season was much more fruitful as she picked up 10 wickets in eight matches at an economy rate of 7.10.
Her second season included some key wickets, and she ended up as her franchise's leading wicket-taker and eighth overall.