[Watch] Emotional Harmanpreet Gives Debut Cap To Asha Sobhana Before INDW vs SAW 1st ODI

Indian leg-spinner Asha Sobhana broke down in tears after receiving her maiden ODI cap from Team India captain Harmanpreet Kaur at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on June 16.

Playing her first ODI match, the 33-year-old delivered a stellar performance, taking four crucial wickets to help the ‘Women in Blue’ secure a commanding 143-run victory over South Africa, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Harmanpreet Kaur Shares Encouraging Words for Debutant Sobhana

Asha Sobhana made her T20I debut for Team India against Bangladesh in May earlier this year. She was also a key player in RCB Women’s WPL 2024 winning team under Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy.

Due to her outstanding performance throughout the WPL 2024 season and her success in Bangladesh, Sobhana earned her maiden ODI cap in India’s series-opener against the visiting South Africans.

In a video circulating on social media, captain Harmanpreet Kaur can be seen praising Sobhana, recalling one of their previous training sessions and acknowledging her hard work, stating she was well-deserving of the Indian cap.

India’s Dominant Win

On the field, Team India dominated South Africa, winning by 143 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Opener Smriti Mandhana scored her sixth ODI century, while debutant Asha Sobhana dismantled South Africa’s lower order by taking the key wickets of Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, and Nonkululeko Mlaba, finishing with impressive figures of 4-21 from 8.4 overs.

Sobhana will next play for Team India in the second ODI of their series against South Africa on June 19, also held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.