Tejal Hasabnis

Tejal Hasabnis may not dominate cricketing headlines, but in the domestic corridors of Indian women’s cricket, her name carries weight, respect, and a quiet assurance of performance. A middle-order stabiliser with a dependable bat and a more-than-handy off-spin, Hasabnis is the type of player every team needs—especially when games teeter on the edge of collapse or demand tactical resilience.

Born in Pune, Hasabnis’ journey into cricket began like many in the region—with school tournaments and nets under the searing Maharashtra sun. Her rise through the ranks was steady and consistent, marked not by viral moments but by performances that selectors remembered.

That early promise matured into consistency once she broke into the senior Maharashtra team. Over the years, Hasabnis became a pillar in both white-ball formats, occupying the crucial No. 4 or No. 5 slot in the batting order. 

The 2018–19 domestic season was a turning point, as she emerged among Maharashtra’s top run-getters, highlighted by a gritty unbeaten 61 against Railways—a side stacked with Indian internationals like Mithali Raj and Ekta Bisht. That innings, under pressure and on a turning track, won her praise not just for the score, but for the temperament she displayed while guiding the tail.

Her off-spin, though not her primary weapon, provides important balance. Hasabnis doesn’t rely on massive turns or extravagant drift but uses flight, angles, and sharp reading of batters’ intent to dry up runs. 

Her steady rise and performances earned her a place in India A squads and the Challenger Trophy, where she represented both India Blue and India A. In August 2024, her breakout moment came during the India A tour of Australia. Hasabnis scored three consecutive fifties in unofficial ODIs, standing tall against Australia A’s pace-heavy attack and adapting seamlessly to the conditions. Her strokeplay, rotation of strike, and tactical maturity impressed the selectors and coaching staff alike.

These performances fast-tracked her into the senior national side, and she made her India debut in October 2024, in an ODI against New Zealand. In just her second ODI, she played a vital hand with a composed 42 that helped India recover from a mini-collapse. In the series against Ireland in January 2025, she struck a well-paced 53*—her first international half-century—helping India post a competitive total.

Hasabnis has also served as a leader—she has captained Maharashtra on a few occasions, bringing a quiet, thoughtful style of leadership. Her captaincy is marked by smart field placements, clarity in bowling changes, and the ability to remain composed even during tense passages of play. These qualities, combined with her all-around contributions, have made her a respected figure in domestic cricket.

(As of May 2025)