Rajeshwari Gayakwad is an Indian cricketer who plays for the India women's national cricket team as a left-arm orthodox spin bowler. Known for her flight, accuracy and ability to extract turn on subcontinental pitches, she has represented India across all three international formats and is among the senior spinners in the Indian women's set-up.
Key facts
| Full name | Rajeshwari Shivanand Gayakwad |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 June 1991, Bijapur (Vijayapura), Karnataka, India |
| Role | Slow left-arm orthodox bowler |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Domestic team | Karnataka |
| National team | India |
| Formats | Test, ODI, T20I |
Background
Gayakwad hails from Vijayapura (formerly Bijapur) in northern Karnataka. She took up cricket at a young age and progressed through Karnataka's age-group and senior women's cricket structure before earning national selection. Her left-arm spin developed alongside the rise of women's cricket in Karnataka, a state which has produced several India internationals.
Domestic career
She represents Karnataka in the senior women's domestic competitions organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, including the Senior Women's One Day Trophy and the Senior Women's T20 Trophy. She has also featured in the Women's Premier League and earlier in the Women's T20 Challenge, the franchise tournament that preceded the WPL.
International career
Gayakwad made her debut for India in 2014 and has since been a regular member of the spin attack. She was part of the Indian squad at the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup in England, where India reached the final. During that tournament she returned a five-wicket haul against New Zealand, one of the standout bowling performances by an Indian in the competition.
She has also featured in subsequent ICC events, including the ICC Women's T20 World Cup editions, and in the women's cricket competition at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, where India won the silver medal. She has played bilateral series across formats against Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and other Test-playing nations.
Style and significance
Gayakwad relies on classical left-arm orthodox virtues: a high release, consistent length, subtle changes of pace and the use of the crease, rather than sharp turn alone. Her economy in the middle overs and ability to break partnerships have made her a recurring choice in India's white-ball line-ups, particularly in home conditions.
Related topics
- India women's national cricket team
- Women's Premier League
- Karnataka women's cricket team
- 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup
- Cricket in India
References
- Wikidata entity: Q21621348
- Board of Control for Cricket in India – Women's cricket records
- International Cricket Council – player profiles and tournament archives