Sneh Rana

Sneh Rana
Full name	Sneh Rana
Born	18 February 1994 Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Nationality	Indian
Role	Bowling all-rounder
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off-break
Teams	India, Railways, Punjab, Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Sneh Rana (born 18 February 1994) is an Indian women’s international cricketer who plays as a bowling all-rounder. A right-arm off-spinner and right-handed batter, she is known for her resilience, comeback to international cricket, and historic performances in Test cricket.

Early Life and Background

Sneh Rana was born in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and grew up in the village of Sinaula on the outskirts of the city. She comes from a modest farming family, and her early cricketing development took place with limited facilities. Despite the challenges, Rana showed natural aptitude for both batting and bowling at a young age.

Her consistent performances at the district and state levels earned her selection in domestic cricket, where she initially represented Punjab before later moving to Railways.

Domestic Career

Rana began her domestic career with Punjab in the 2010–11 season before joining Railways, one of the strongest teams in Indian women’s domestic cricket. Her performances for Railways across formats established her as a dependable bowling all-rounder.

She has also been a regular presence in domestic limited-overs tournaments and has contributed significantly with both bat and ball in knockout matches.

International Career

Sneh Rana made her international debut in 2014, representing India in ODIs and T20Is against Sri Lanka. Early in her career, she showed promise, but a serious knee injury in 2016 sidelined her from international cricket for nearly five years.

Her return to the national side came in 2021, when she was selected for India’s Test squad against England. She made her Test debut on 16 June 2021 and delivered a composed all-round performance that marked one of the most notable comebacks in Indian women’s cricket.

She went on to represent India in major tournaments, including the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Her defining career moment arrived in 2024 during the one-off Test against South Africa, where she took a ten-wicket haul, becoming the first Indian woman to achieve the feat in Test cricket.

In limited-overs cricket, Rana continued to grow as a strike bowler, recording her maiden ODI five-wicket haul against South Africa in April 2025.

Franchise Cricket

Rana has featured prominently in women’s franchise cricket. She has represented Velocity in the Women’s T20 Challenge and played for Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. From 2025 onwards, she joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru, adding experience and depth to their bowling unit.

Playing Style

Sneh Rana is known for her accuracy, subtle variations, and ability to extract bounce as an off-spinner. As a lower-order batter, she is capable of contributing crucial runs under pressure, making her a valuable all-round option in all formats.

Impact and Outlook

Rana’s journey from a long injury layoff to becoming a match-winner in international cricket has made her a symbol of perseverance in Indian women’s sport. Her achievements in Test cricket, in particular, have strengthened India’s red-ball credentials.

As of late 2025, she remains an important part of India’s bowling plans and continues to play a leadership role in domestic and franchise cricket.