New Delhi, Nov 20 (NationPress) Tanuja Kanwer, India's left-arm spin bowling all-rounder, expressed that the triumph in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, following the retention of the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, will significantly uplift women’s cricket in India.

“This year has been remarkable for us. We achieved victory in the U-19 World Cup for the first time. Additionally, we won the India A series in Australia and secured a bilateral match win against them here after 18 years, in New Chandigarh last September,” she shared.

“The motivation from these victories has been immense. Winning the World Cup is an extraordinary achievement for women's cricket. This victory is crucial for propelling women's cricket to new heights,” Tanuja stated during an exclusive interview with IANS at a OneDice event on Thursday.

Tanuja has played two ODIs and four T20Is for India, showcasing her skills with the Gujarat Giants (GG) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). “The WPL has been transformative for domestic players. Previously, we would jump straight from domestic cricket to international matches without adequate preparation. Now, with the WPL, we compete alongside international players, which helps us adapt to that level,” she explained.

In Brisbane earlier this year, Tanuja played a pivotal role by scoring a composed half-century off 57 balls, securing a series win for India A against Australia A. Coming in at a challenging moment at 157/6 after Minnu Mani’s dismissal, Tanuja steadied the innings with three boundaries.

Tanuja formed a crucial 62-run eighth-wicket partnership with Prema Rawat, who contributed an impressive 32 not out, ensuring India A clinched the series. “At that moment, we were strategizing how deeply we could take the game, discussing whether 5 runs per over was sufficient,” she recalled.

“We were cautious initially, scoring 5-6 runs per over during that phase. However, once Prema and I decided to accelerate, it was a combined effort, which turned out to be the key to our success,” Tanuja added.

When asked about her bowling strategy, Tanuja emphasized, “I focus on bowling wicket-to-wicket as much as possible. This approach minimizes the batter’s chances of scoring and increases the likelihood of taking wickets. If I can restrict runs, it puts pressure on the batter, increasing the chances of wickets falling from either end.”

Although Tanuja was not retained by GG (the team can opt to buy her back via RTM card), she remains hopeful about securing a spot in WPL 2026 during the mega auction in New Delhi on November 27. “I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I believe I’ll get picked, but it ultimately depends on luck,” she remarked.

Tanuja concluded by acknowledging her father's support in pursuing a professional cricket career. “Family support is paramount. My father has been passionate about cricket since childhood. He introduced me to the sport, and when he recognized my keen interest, he enrolled me in the HPCA cricket academy in Dharamshala,” she shared.