Renuka Singh

Renuka Singh Thakur, India’s premier swing specialist, is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous new-ball bowlers in the women’s game. Born on January 2, 1996, in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, she has become the 'swing queen' of the national side, known for her ability to move the ball both ways and dismantle top orders in the powerplay. Her 2025 season was defined by a historic double achievement: she was a key figure in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s WPL campaign in March and later spearheaded the bowling attack that led India to their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title in November. Her World Cup performance was highlighted by her relentless accuracy and a crucial opening spell in the final against South Africa, cementing her status as a big-game player.

The late 2025 WPL mega auction marked a significant turning point in her career. After three seasons with RCB, Renuka entered the auction pool and became a major target for teams looking to bolster their domestic pace battery. The Gujarat Giants eventually secured her services for ₹60 lakh, bringing her in to lead a revamped bowling attack alongside her former RCB teammate Sophie Devine and Australian star Kim Garth. For the Giants, Renuka is a tactical masterstroke; her ability to provide early breakthroughs is seen as the missing piece for a franchise looking to move on from three consecutive bottom-of-the-table finishes.As she prepares for the 2026 season starting in January, Renuka carries the momentum of a World Champion. She enters the Giants' camp not just as a strike bowler, but as a veteran leader of a young Indian pace unit that includes Titas Sadhu and Kashvee Gautam. With a career T20I economy rate of 6.37 and a knack for picking up wickets in clusters, she remains the ultimate threat to any opening batter in the league.