Shreyanka Patil shortlisted for ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2024 award

The nominees for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2024 have been revealed by the International Cricket Council on their official website.

After a thorough analysis, the ICC has come up with a list of four cricketers by considering their all-round performance while representing their respecrtive nations. Shreyanka Patil is amongst the four candidates shortlisted for the iconic award.

Below is the list of the nominees and how they fared throughout 2024: 

1. Annerie Dercksen (South Africa Women)

Dercksen has had a remarkable trajectory in terms of her professional career. Starting off as a qualified teacher who completed her studies at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein to becoming one of the rising stars in the game, the South African all-rounder has come a long way.

Her numbers in 2024 include 161 runs and five wickets in 17 T20Is, 70 runs and six wickets in four ODIs, and 60 runs in two Tests. 

The one performance which stood out was Dercksen's belligerent 23-ball 44-run knock against Pakistan Women in the series-decider against Pakistan Women, ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024. Her explosive knock earned her the Player of the Match award in that game.

2. Saskia Horley (Scotland Women)

Horley's cricketing journey is nothing short of a dream come true. An aspiring 13-year-old started off on a TV show, where she was coached by Ellyse Perry. She later went on to share the global arena with the same international superstar, while representing New South Wales Women. 

Horley has been instrumental at the top of the order for Scotland Women. In the 10 T20Is and 5 ODIs played, she has scored 142 and 276 runs, respectively. She secured three and nine wickets in the two formats, respectively. 

Her best outing this year was against Papua New Guinea Women in the Netherlands Women's ODI Tri-Series in August 2024. Her composed century made her the first-ever ODI centurion for her nation. Not only that, she came back spendidly well in the second innings of the game with an impressive four-wicket haul. 

3. Freya Sargent (Ireland Women) 

Freya comes from a family with a rich cricketing lineage. The 18-year-old bowling all-rounder is the latest to carry forward the legacy.

She played 11 ODIs and nine T20Is in 2024. In the respective games, Freya ended up bagging 13 and seven dismissals.

Her memorable performance came against England. After the single over inside the powerplay in the first T20I, she came back into the attack to bowl the seventh of the innings; an over which got Ireland their first breakthrough of the day. Entrusted with the penultimate over of the innings, Sargent did not lose her cool after getting stroked for boundaries on the first two deliveries. Along with affecting a run-out, she took two wickets in the same over, ending with career-best T20I figures of 3/30.

4. Shreyanka Patil (India Women)

Shreyanka has been one of the rising stars of India Women. Ever since she made history by being the first Indian to feature in the Women's Caribbean Premier League in December 2023, she has continued to advance for the national side.  

The bulk of the youngster's games have come in the 20-over format. Featuring in 13 T20Is, she picked up 15 wickets. Regardless of coming on in the powerplay, middle-overs, or at the death, Shreyanka has impressed with the manner in which she has adapted. Patil is also an accomplished lower-order batter. Despite not being called upon to showcase her prowess with the bat, she holds immense capabilities in that aspect too.

One of Shreyanka's noteworthy efforts came against Pakistan Women at this year's Women's T20 World Cup. She finished with remarkable figures of 2/14 in her quota. Her second wicket was the same over she conceded no runs in.