Biography of Sikha Pandey
Shikha Pandey was born on 12-05-1989 in Karimnagar in the state of Telangana in India. She is an Indian cricketer and former airline manager. Shikha Pandey is an all-rounder who represents the Indian women’s cricket team in three formats – Tests, ODIs and T20Is.
She hails from Ramagundam, Telangana but now based in Goa. He is an engineering graduate from Goa Engineering College. She is also an air defense officer of the IAF and plays as an all-rounder for the national cricket team. Although She had many jobs and career options available to him, he chose to serve the nation through the IAF and cricket.
Her Journey
Shikha Pandey made her debut for Goa in 2004. Taking a year off turned out to be a great decision as Shikha had a fantastic domestic season. The former cricketer and manager, Surekha Bhandare saw him as soon as he started playing cricket at the state level.
Bhandare, with an experienced eye, immediately recognized how extraordinary his talent was. He meets Shikha’s father and asks him to send her to Mumbai for further training. Shikha has played many interstate tournaments for Goa. He has become a strong member of the group. In addition to performing well in the department, he maintained his engineering studies. Purnima Rao, former Indian captain, also encouraged Shikha to play professional cricket. Rao was the manager when Shikha started playing domestic cricket. His faith in Shikha motivated him even more.
Shikha participated in the President’s Board XI match against West Indies and England. After the cricket season ends, Shikha appears for her air force exams. He wiped them out! Fortunately for Shikha, her superiors in the Air Force, especially the Air Force’s chief air sports officer, were very supportive throughout her career. It was exactly ten years later that he made his national debut. In March 2014, he made his T20 debut against Bangladesh. His ODI and Test debut followed shortly after. While representing the country, he achieved the feat of being only the second player from Goa to make the national team. Dilip Sardesai holds the distinction of being the first.
Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami has been Shikha’s biggest inspiration ever since she started playing cricket. Unexpectedly then, Shikha was over the moon when she got the chance to open up to Goswami.
“We are happy to have both of them on our side. Every youngster who wants to be a middle player must dream of training and playing football alongside Jhulu (Jhulan Goswami) husband. When I got my India cap, I got it from him, in Bangladesh before the World T20 in 2014. I had a chance to play with him. In every training session we played, he was gifted,” Shikha told ESPNcricinfo. His idol also had good things to say about him. He told ESPN in an interview: “He is one of the toughest cricketers I have played with in my career.
Sikha Pandey Domestic Cricketer Carrer
In 2004, she started playing for Goa, and later, she played in the Goa Women’s Senior Team. In the first match of the Rani Jhansi Trophy, he took four wickets. Also, he scored three half-centuries while representing Goa in U-19 cricket. Those innings earned him quick selection in the local team.
In the gap year he played for the Board’s President’s XI, he played against England and toured the West Indies. Also, he took his first international wicket – Charlotte Edwards. He continued his journey as a cricketer for Goa in the Interstate Tournament.
Shikha Pandey in international cricket
Later, Pandey joined the Indian team for three matches against Bangladesh before participating in the 2014 T20I World Cup. Also, she is the first woman, Indian player, after Dilip Sardesai to play Goa International cricket.