Ekta Bisht

Ekta Bisht
Full name	Ekta Bisht
Born	8 February 1986 Almora, Uttar Pradesh, India (now Uttarakhand)
Nationality	Indian
Role	Bowler
Bowling	Slow left-arm orthodox
Teams	India, Uttar Pradesh, Railways, Uttarakhand, Royal Challengers Bangalore

Ekta Bisht (born 8 February 1986) is a former Indian women’s international cricketer who played as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. She is widely recognized as the first international woman cricketer from Uttarakhand and the first Indian woman to take a hat-trick in a Women’s Twenty20 International. Known for her discipline, control, and consistency, Bisht played a significant role in India’s bowling attack between 2011 and 2022.

Early Life and Background

Ekta Bisht was born in Almora, in the Kumaon region of present-day Uttarakhand. She grew up in a financially modest household. Her father, Kundan Singh Bisht, a retired Indian Army havaldar, ran a small tea stall to support the family, while her mother, Tara Bisht, managed the household.

Bisht began playing cricket at the age of six, often competing alongside boys in her locality. Despite limited resources, her family supported her passion. She trained under coach Liyakat Ali while playing for the Uttaranchal Women’s Cricket Association and later captained Kumaon University in North Zone tournaments.

Domestic Career

Ekta Bisht started her domestic career with Uttar Pradesh during the 2006–07 season before moving to Railways, one of India’s strongest domestic teams. Playing alongside senior international players helped her refine her skills and consistency. Later, she represented Uttarakhand in domestic competitions after the formation of the state team.

International Career

Bisht made her international debut for India in 2011 against Australia in both ODI and T20I formats. She quickly established herself as a reliable spinner capable of building pressure through tight bowling spells.

Her most historic achievement came during the 2012 ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, where she became the first Indian woman to take a hat-trick in T20 International cricket. The feat marked a major milestone in Indian women’s cricket history.

Career Highlights

One of Bisht’s finest performances came in the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she took 5 wickets for 18 runs against Pakistan. In the same year, she finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker in Women’s ODIs and was the only player named in both the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year and ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year.

Across her international career, she took 98 wickets in One Day Internationals and 53 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals, maintaining impressive bowling averages.

Later Career and WPL

Ekta Bisht remained part of India’s wider squad until 2022 and was included as a reserve player for the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. In December 2023, she was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 2024 Women’s Premier League season, bringing experience and leadership to the franchise.

Awards and Recognition

In 2017, Ekta Bisht received the Uttarakhand Khel Ratna Award in recognition of her contributions to Indian cricket. Her coach, Liyakat Ali Khan, was also honored with the Dronacharya Award. Bisht has been praised by former cricketers for her athleticism, fielding ability, and discipline on the field.

Legacy

Ekta Bisht’s journey from a small hill town to international cricket has made her a role model for aspiring women cricketers from non-metropolitan regions. Her achievements helped put Uttarakhand on India’s cricketing map and opened doors for future generations of female athletes.