Who is Saika Ishaque: The Spin Queen of WPL Currently holds the Purple Cap

It can need a particular effort from a cricketer to become the captain’s go-to player, but in the case of Bengal and Mumbai Indians’ spinner Saika Ishaque, it’s all about providing her best “one ball at a time”.

Ishaque could not have had a better start to the Women’s Premier League (WPL). She has not only taken the most wickets in the competition so far for the table-toppers Mumbai Indians, but she has also played a defining role in the two outings, against Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore, with six wickets in the first two matches.

The 27-year-old left-arm spinner ignited a collapse in the RCB ranks at the Brabourne Stadium, dismissing England’s Sophie Devine and Disha Kasat in three deliveries to return with scores of 4-0-26-2, playing a major part in their 9-wicket triumph.

This followed her fantastic performance in the tournament opener against Gujarat Giants, when she recorded remarkable numbers of 3.1-1-11-4, leading Mumbai Indians to a 143-run victory.

“I have not prepared any differently for the Women’s Premier League. I have concentrated on bowling one delivery at a time and that is what I want to keep my focus at,”

“Harry di (Harmanpreet) is pleased to see me bowl well. She has supported me a lot. Whenever she feels the team needs a wicket, she has given me the ball,” she said.

“The journey has been very good so far, people here in MI camp have been very supportive. A lot of good has happened because of them,”

Saika Ishaque

Purple Cap Table March 24, 2023

WPL 2023 Purple Cap List

Rank	Player	Team	Position	Date of Birth	Age	W
1	Saika Ishaque	MI	Bowler	October 8, 1995	27	9
2	Sophie Ecclestone	UPW	All-Rounder	May 6, 1999	23	7
3	Kim Garth	GG	All-Rounder	April 25, 1996	26	5
4	Hayley Matthews	MI	All-Rounder	March 19, 1998	25	5
5	Deepti Sharma	UPW	All-Rounder	August 24, 1997	25	5
6	Tara Norris	DC	Bowler	June 4, 1998	24	5
7	Ashleigh Gardner	Australia Women	All-Rounder	April 15, 1997	25	4
8	Amelia Kerr	MI	All-Rounder	October 13, 2000	22	4
9	Heather Knight	RCB	All-Rounder	December 26, 1990	32	4
10	Natalie Sciver	MI	All-Rounder	August 20, 1992	30	3

“People talk about you only when you are performing well, but no one remembers you when you are not doing well. Returning from the long layoff, I had only one thing in mind that ‘I do not have anything else to lose’. Whatever is there in future, I will have to get it for myself. This was the only thing in mind,”

“I have played cricket at various levels. I have played at the U-19, U-23 and even at the senior level. I have also played zonal cricket, Challengers Trophy and even for India A. But then the injury struck me and I could not play for two years. However, once I returned after recovering from the injury, I played whatever I could.”

“It was very important for me (to perform well) since I was making a comeback after two years. I had a point to prove. I played in the Challengers Trophy and in the Women’s T20 Challenger (2022).

“The injury alone did not keep me out of action. I just could not bowl well enough.”

“Whoever I am today, a lot of credit for it goes to Jhulan Goswami. Whenever I faced any trouble I have reached out to her. She has always supported me.

“Jhulu di has always inspired me, I always get a different positive vibe from her. I have always wanted to play like her and have followed her journey ever since I began playing cricket,”

Ishaque, who was a member of the Trailblazers’ squad in Women’s T20 Challenger 2022 before joining the WPL, was exposed to cricket by her father.

Saika recent wickets so far (WPL)

Saika Ishaque has been such a revelation in WPL 2023 so far…

1. Meg Lanning
2. Sophie Devine
3. Shafali Verma
4. Jemimah Rodrigues
5. Annabel Sutherland
6. Georgia Wareham
7. Disha Kasat
8. Mansi Joshi
9. Monica Patel

Saika Ishaque’s Recent form