Left-arm spinner Charani got her India call-up following an impressive WPL, and two months after her ODI debut, she received her T20I cap on the tour of England. It did not take long for her to make an impact.
In batting-friendly conditions at Trent Bridge, Smriti Mandhana's century set England 211 in the series opener. England took 31 runs off their first three overs, though they also lost two wickets. When Charani was brought on in the fourth, she gave away only six runs.
When she returned for her second over, England were 69 for 4. Charani made it 70 for 5, getting Alice Capsey caught at short third. In her next over, she had Sophie Ecclestone hole out at deep midwicket. Charani then struck two times in her final over, dismissing a set Nat Sciver-Brunt for 66, and Lauren Bell, to close out the game.
What stood out in her spell was how quickly she adapted to English conditions. It was the first time she was playing outside the subcontinent, and she varied her flight and pace well to bowl 15 dot balls.
Key moment
Charani's duel with Sciver-Brunt was short but it showed the left-arm spinner's mettle. In the five balls she bowled to the England captain, Charani did not allow the batter to get under the ball, and most of Sciver-Brunt's powerful heaves found fielders in the deep. It was almost the frustration of not being able to put Charani away that resulted in Sciver-Brunt being caught behind in what eventually turned out to be the final over of the game.
Recommended Read
The numbers
4 for 12 Charani's figures were the second-best by an Indian woman on T20I debut15 Number of dot balls Charani bowled in the game; no one else bowled more than 11 (Bell)
What they said
"We saw what she could do in the WPL a little bit. She was always looking like a really good bowler. But today the way she actually bowled was amazing."
- Smriti Mandhana, stand-in India captain for the game
- Smriti Mandhana, stand-in India captain for the game
"It was a dream debut for her and she is a special talent. She performed with a lot of grit and determination."
- Team-mate Sneh Rana, who presented Charani with her ODI and T20I caps
- Team-mate Sneh Rana, who presented Charani with her ODI and T20I caps
The closest contender
Annabel Sutherland
4 for 8 vs New Zealand, second T20I, Mount Maunganui
Sutherland returned her best figures in T20Is, dismantling New Zealand spectacularly. She dismissed Sophie Devine for a first-ball duck, two balls after knocking over opener Georgia Plimmer. That double-blow in the powerplay was followed by the wicket of another key batter, left-hander Brooke Halliday, on Sutherland's seventh ball. There was no coming back for New Zealand from there.
4 for 8 vs New Zealand, second T20I, Mount Maunganui
Sutherland returned her best figures in T20Is, dismantling New Zealand spectacularly. She dismissed Sophie Devine for a first-ball duck, two balls after knocking over opener Georgia Plimmer. That double-blow in the powerplay was followed by the wicket of another key batter, left-hander Brooke Halliday, on Sutherland's seventh ball. There was no coming back for New Zealand from there.