Chandigarh girl Taniya makes it to ICC World Cup, again

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, january 6

City’s Taniya Bhatia, Indian women’s cricket team wicketkeeper, is all set to play her second world cup. Taniya, captain of the Punjab women’s cricket team, has been selected by the BCCI for the ICC Women’s World Cup - 2022.

The Indian team is scheduled to play their first World Cup fixture against Pakistan on March 6, at Bay Oval, Tauranga, New Zealand. After this match, India will square off against New Zealand (March 10), West Indies (March 12), England (March 16), Australia (March 19), Bangladesh (March 22) and South Africa (March 27) in the group stage.

The squad will also feature in the 5-match ODI series against New Zealand starting from February 11.

In her last World Cup (2020), held in Australia, she had suffered concussion following a hit on her neck in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup against hosts Australia at the MCG in Melbourne. Defending champions Australia had defeated India by 85 runs in the final.

“She is off to Bangalore to join the squad. She had a brilliant domestic season with Punjab. I hope she will give her best while playing for the nation in this important tournament,” said Sanjay Bhatia, Taniya’s father.

He said: “She had also worked hard during the Covid pandemic. We had set up a gym and nets at our home only. Before playing the domestic season, she was well prepared and even she is excited and confident for this World Cup.”

Feats

Taniya was the first woman player, residing in Chandigarh, to play in the Women’s World Cup in 2020. She has now become the only woman from the city to play two consecutive World Cups.