Mahika Gaur, a former UAE resident, stands out as one of the most promising young talents in women's international cricket.
A side strain prevented Mahika Gaur, the 18-year-old English pace sensation, from making her ICC Women’s T20 World Cup debut in the UAE, the country where she first honed her cricket skills. However, England coach Jon Lewis is confident that this six-foot-four prodigy has the potential to become a cricketing legend. "The most exciting aspect of Mahika is her age. She is still only 18," Lewis shared with the Khaleej Times during an interview. "When I first saw Mahika bowl, about a year and a half ago, I was intrigued. Having observed numerous bowlers since my playing days, I can recognize talent, and she is exceptionally gifted."
Mahika played 19 T20 International matches for the UAE, making her debut at just 12 years old, before catching the eye of England's national selectors, the country of her birth. Last year, she made waves with her remarkable performances in her inaugural series for England against Sri Lanka. She was poised to play a pivotal role in the T20 World Cup before her injury dashed her World Cup aspirations. "I would have loved to see her play in this World Cup. But in the future, she is going to be a very exciting cricketer for England," Lewis remarked.
A former pace bowler who represented the England men’s team in 16 matches across all formats, Lewis acknowledged the UAE cricket system for nurturing Mahika's talent, whose parents still reside in Dubai. "Her ball control and movement, especially for someone her age, were immediately noticeable (when I first saw her). She has clearly benefited from excellent training here (UAE)," he said. "A lot of credit must go to those who trained her here. It's incredible for someone so young to play international cricket."
The England coach also highlighted what makes Mahika such a unique bowler. "Her height, standing at six foot three or four, is unique. A left-armer at six-foot-four, she swings the ball, gets bounce, and possesses a truly unique skill set," he explained. "She will get quicker. Currently, she bowls at around 66-67 miles an hour, but I believe she will be much faster. When that happens, she will be a truly exceptional talent. My view is that she will become a top-tier international bowler. I cannot speak more highly of Mahika; she is an incredible talent."
Remarkably, the right-arm pacer managed to keep India’s star batters in check with a superb spell of 4-0-27-1 during the UAE’s 2022 Asia Cup match against the continent's strongest team. Mahika’s seamless transition to the elite level with a Test-playing nation would undoubtedly inspire her former UAE teammates to pursue their cricketing dreams.
"My advice to all female cricketers in the UAE would be to dream big," Lewis concluded. "If you love playing cricket, play as much as you can, train as hard as you can, and dream big because you never know what you can achieve in life. So go for it, follow your ambition, and pursue what you love doing."
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