Today, on **June 29, 2026**, Indian cricket fans are talking about the hard work of the Indian Women's Cricket Team. Yesterday, on June 28, India played a big match against Australia in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. In that match, India’s star bowler Renuka Singh Thakur gave a great start to the team. She took an important wicket in the very first over. Even though India lost the match, Renuka proved that she is a fighter.
Renuka Singh Thakur is one of the best fast bowlers in India. She bowls with a beautiful swing. Her story is very motivating for small-town girls. She worked very hard to reach the top. Let us look at her full biography, her family, her struggles, and her big career milestones.
Early Life And Childhood
Renuka Singh Thakur was born on **January 2, 1996**. She was born in a small village named Parsa. This village is in the Rohru area of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Shimla is a cold mountain area. Not many people from there played cricket before.
Her father's name was Kehar Singh Thakur. He worked in the state water department. He was a very big fan of cricket. He loved the legendary player Vinod Kambli. That is why he named Renuka's elder brother Vinod. Her father wanted his children to play sports.
But a big tragedy happened very early. Renuka's father died when she was only three years old. This was a very shocking time for the family. Her mother, Sunita Devi, became a widow at a young age. Her mother had to take care of two small kids.
The Big Struggle of Her Mother
After her husband died, Sunita Devi did not give up. She got a job as a helper in the state irrigation department. Her salary was very small. She had to run the house with that little money.
Renuka loved playing cricket with her brother and local boys. She used to play on local grounds. She was very natural at bowling. Her family saw her interest. Her uncle, Bhupinder Singh Thakur, saw her talent. He told her mother to send Renuka to a professional cricket academy.
At that time, there was a cricket academy for girls in Dharamshala. It was run by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA). Renuka joined this academy in the year 2009. She was only 13 years old then. Leaving home at such a young age was very tough. But her mother sent her to fulfill her father's dream.
Renuka Singh Thakur Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Husband
Details | Information |
|---|---|
Full Name | Renuka Singh Thakur |
Date of Birth | January 2, 1996 |
Age (in 2026) | 30 Years old |
Birth Place | Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India |
Role | Bowler |
Bowling Style | Right-arm medium-fast (Swing Bowler) |
Batting Style | Right-handed |
Mother's Name | Sunita Devi |
Father's Name | Late Kehar Singh Thakur |
WPL Team 2026 | Gujarat Giants |
Domestic Cricket Career
At the Dharamshala academy, Renuka learned real cricket. She practiced everyday under the coaches. She became very disciplined. She started playing for the Himachal Pradesh Under-19 team.
Her big moment came in the 2019-2020 domestic season. She played in the Senior Women's One Day League. Renuka bowled beautifully in that tournament. She took **23 wickets** in total. She was the highest wicket-taker in the whole country. Because of this performance, all the big selectors noticed her name.
Later, she also started playing for the Indian Railways team. Playing with senior Indian players in the Railways team made her more confident.
International Debut And Success
Renuka's dream came true in the year 2021. She got a call to play for the Indian National Team.
* **T20I Debut:** She played her first T20 International match on October 7, 2021, against Australia.
* **ODI Debut:** She played her first One Day International match on February 18, 2022, against New Zealand.
* **Test Debut:** She made her Test cricket debut on December 14, 2023, against England.
Her best quality is her **swing bowling**. She can move the cricket ball in the air. This makes it very difficult for the opening batters to hit runs.
Major Career Achievements
Renuka Singh became a permanent member of the Indian team very fast. She performed wonderfully in big tournaments.
1. Commonwealth Games 2022
Cricket was included in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. Renuka Singh was the hero for India. She took **11 wickets** in the whole tournament. She was the top wicket-taker of the event. She took 4 wickets for just 18 runs against a strong team like Australia. India won the **Silver Medal**, and Renuka became famous across India.
2. ICC Emerging Player of the Year 2022
Because of her amazing performance in 2022, the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave her a big award. She was named the **ICC Emerging Women's Cricketer of the Year 2022**. This was a proud moment for Himachal Pradesh and India.
3. Women's Asia Cup and World Cup
Renuka helped India win the Women's Asia Cup in 2022. She also played a major role in the Indian squad that lifted the **2025 Women's Cricket World Cup**. In the ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup games, she continues to lead the fast-bowling attack.
Women's Premier League (WPL) Career
When the Women's Premier League (WPL) started, Renuka was in high demand.
* In the first seasons, she played for **Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)**. She helped the team build a strong fan base.
* In 2026, she moved to the **Gujarat Giants** team. She is currently a key bowler for them. WPL gave her good financial stability, which helped her family overcome past poverty.
Interesting Facts About Renuka Singh
* Renuka lost her father when she was only 3 years old. She does not remember his face properly, but she plays to fulfill his dream.
* Her nickname is 'Radha'. Her family and close friends call her by this name.
* She is a big fan of South African fast bowler Dale Steyn. She learned a lot by watching his swing videos.
* She is the first woman cricketer from the remote areas of Shimla to play for India.
* Her mother worked under the hot sun and heavy rain in the mountains to support Renuka's cricket kit costs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the full name of Renuka Singh?
Her full name is Renuka Singh Thakur.
Where is Renuka Singh from?
She is from Parsa village in Rohru, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, India.
When did Renuka Singh make her International debut?
She made her international debut in a T20 match against Australia on October 7, 2021.
What is the main strength of Renuka Singh's bowling?
Her main strength is her ability to swing the ball both ways, especially inside the powerplay overs.
Which team does Renuka Singh play for in WPL 2026?
She plays for Gujarat Giants in the 2026 season of the Women's Premier League.
What big Award did Renuka Singh win from ICC?
She won the **ICC Emerging Women's Cricketer of the Year** award for her brilliant performance in the year 2022.
Who is the mother of Renuka Singh?
Her mother is Sunita Devi. She worked very hard as a government helper to raise Renuka after her father's death.