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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) named Jintimani Kalita as the replacement for fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur ahead of India's ODI series against Zimbabwe, which is scheduled to start tomorrow. On Thursday, October 22, BCCI informed through a press release that Renuka will not be part of the bilateral series.
In its press release, BCCI said Renuka Singh Thakur is currently in the process of increasing her workload according to the 50-over format criteria. As the bowler is not yet prepared to bowl ten overs in an ODI match, the board has decided to keep him away from the tournament.
Renuka Singh Thakur is yet to increase her workload for the ODIs
Renuka Singh Thakur is still at the board's Centre of Excellence (CoE) to gain match fitness according to the One Day International standards. When she will be able to make his return in the format with the India Women's National Cricket Team is yet to be cleared. As of now, Jintimani Kalita, 22, a fast bowler hailing from Assam, is all set to fill the void in the ODI squad.
Before heading into the three-match ODI series, the Indian women's cricket team handed the Zimbabwe Women's National Cricket Team a 3-0 defeat in the three-match T20I series. Jintimani Kalita was part of the T20I team. She has travelled with the team to Baroda, where the ODI series will be played from tomorrow. The emerging seamer is yet to get her India debut cap.
Who is Jintimani Kalita?
The right-arm medium pacer from Guwahati recently featured for the India A cricket team during a home series against the Australia A cricket team in September this year. She played in four matches against the Australia Women's A team and got only 1 wicket. In New Chandigarh, Jintimani Kalita took a wicket against 14 runs only.
Along with pace bowling skills, Kalita has some batting credentials as well. From the tail end of the batting order, she can add a few runs with her bat. Deep down in the batting order, someone who can contribute with two-digit runs can prove decisive in close matches.
Will the team led by Smriti Mandhana provide her the much-awaited debut cap in the absence of Renuka Singh Thakur? It'll be an interesting decision.
A few stints for Mumbai Indians Women in WPL
The India Women vs Zimbabwe Women ODI series is set to start tomorrow at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi. The remaining two matches of the series will be on Sunday (October 25) and Wednesday (October 28). All of the matches will be in Vadodara.
Before making her way into the senior national cricket squad, Jintimani Kalita showed his skills in the Women's Premier League (WPL) for the Mumbai Indians Women.
In the 2022-23 WPL season, the pacer claimed one wicket in 4 innings and 10 matches with an economy rate of 7.40. However, she went wicketless in the 2024-25 season after playing three matches for Mumbai Women.
