Renuka Singh Thakur

Renuka Singh Thakur
Full name	Renuka Singh Thakur
Born	2 January 1996 Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Nationality	Indian
Bowling	Right-arm medium-fast
Role	Bowler
Teams	India, Himachal Pradesh, Railways, Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Renuka Singh Thakur (born 2 January 1996) is an Indian international women’s cricketer who plays as a right-arm medium-fast bowler for the India women’s national team. Renowned for her swing bowling and control with the new ball, she has emerged as one of India’s most reliable pace bowlers across formats and played a key role in India’s historic ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup victory in 2025.

Early Life and Background

Renuka Singh Thakur was born in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and grew up in the hill town of Rohru. She began playing cricket at a young age and represented Himachal Pradesh in domestic cricket during the 2011–12 season. Her father, a government employee, passed away when she was young, after which her mother supported her cricketing ambitions despite financial constraints.

Training under coaches associated with the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, Renuka developed her ability to swing the ball consistently, a skill that set her apart in domestic tournaments.

Domestic Career

Renuka represented Himachal Pradesh in India’s domestic women’s circuit before later joining Railways. Her breakthrough season came during the 2019–20 Senior Women’s One Day League, where she finished as the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets. That performance earned her national selection and recognition as one of the most promising fast bowlers in Indian women’s cricket.

International Career

Renuka Singh made her international debut in October 2021, playing her first Twenty20 International against Australia. She made her One Day International debut in February 2022 against New Zealand.

Her global breakthrough came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where she finished as the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets and helped India secure the silver medal. In the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she registered her first T20I five-wicket haul, taking 5/15 against England.

Renuka made her Test debut in December 2023 against England and later featured against Australia in the same series, establishing herself as an all-format bowler for India.

2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

Renuka Singh was a central figure in India’s 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup campaign. She provided early breakthroughs in several matches, particularly against South Africa and England, setting the tone for India’s bowling dominance throughout the tournament. Her consistent performances contributed significantly to India lifting the Women’s World Cup title for the first time.

Playing Style

Renuka Singh is known for her ability to swing the new ball both ways and maintain disciplined line and length. She relies on accuracy, seam movement, and tactical awareness rather than raw pace, making her especially effective in powerplay overs.

Franchise Cricket

In franchise cricket, Renuka represents Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League. She has been one of the franchise’s leading bowlers, regularly delivering key spells against top opposition batters.

Recognition and Impact

Renuka Singh’s rise has inspired young cricketers from non-metropolitan and hill regions of India. Her performances have drawn comparisons with former Indian fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, particularly for her control and consistency. She has received multiple acknowledgments from the BCCI for her performances between 2022 and 2025.

Outlook

As of late 2025, Renuka Singh remains a core member of India’s ODI, T20I, and Test squads. With her experience, skill set, and fitness, she is expected to lead India’s pace attack in upcoming ICC tournaments and bilateral series.