The member of Indian women cricket team and all-rounder Shikha Pandey has been felicitated by Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa at its headquarter based in New Delhi after all-round show from Women in Blue, in the recently concluded ICC Women’s World Cup in England, won praises from all the quarters under the leadership of Mithali Raj.
The 28-year-old Goa-born Shikha was the part of the team which ended up as runners-up of the 2017 50-over World Cup after losing the grand final by nine runs at iconic Lord’s against hosts England.
In 2012, the regular part of the women team now, Shikha was commissioned as Air Traffic Control Officer (ATCO) on June 30.
Interestingly, Shikha by the time became the first lady official to be inducted into the national side from the Services.
The fast bowler bagged eight wickets in the competition which was held between June 24 and July 23.
Shikha has played a significant part in the competition to qualify for the second final of the World Cup since 2005 when the India Eves lost the final against Australia in South Africa.
Brimming with confidence, Shikha conceded just 17 runs in the semi-final to claim two wickets in a bid to force out Meg Lanning’s Australia from the competition.
(Read More: Mithali Raj Says the 2005 World Cup Was More Memorable Than the 2017 Edition)
However, India beat England in their opener of the league match on July 24 in which impressive Shikha claimed two wickets at Derby, before bagging three wickets against South Africa on July 8 at Leicester.
During the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, 2014 in Bangladesh, Shikha has made her debut against Bangladesh Women at Cox’s Bazar.
Shikha has featured in 32 ODIs, 22 T20Is and only two Tests for India. She has bagged 45 wickets in 50 over format and 12 in the 20-over leg, before bagging four wickets in the longer format, as she made her Test debut against England in August 2014 at Wormsley.