Patiala, 12 February (Sports Desk)
Ahilya Chandel, a pacer from the Japan women’s national cricket team, has joined the Delhi Capitals (DC) as a net bowler for the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL). Notably, she is one of only four bowlers in women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is) to have taken a double hat-trick.
Could Ahilya Chandel Make History for Japanese Cricket?
This question has been on the minds of cricket fans ever since the Delhi Capitals announced that the Japanese international would be joining the franchise as a net bowler for WPL 2025. While being a net bowler doesn’t guarantee a spot in the squad, it has often served as a stepping stone for many players.
For example, Kumar Kartikeya, Umran Malik, and Mukesh Kumar all began their journeys as net bowlers for various franchises before carving out successful careers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Similarly, Chandel’s role with DC could open doors for her future in the league, especially if she impresses during training and an opportunity arises due to injuries within the squad.
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Strategic Value as an Associate Player
Chandel’s status as a player from an associate nation adds to her strategic value. The WPL’s foreign player rule allows teams to field a maximum of five overseas players, provided one of them is from an associate nation. Otherwise, the cap is limited to four overseas players from full-member nations.
If Chandel secures a spot in the playing XI, she would become the first Japanese cricketer—male or female—to earn a contract with a major global T20 franchise league. Even if she doesn’t get the opportunity this season, training alongside international stars like Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning, and Shafali Verma will be invaluable for her development and the growth of Japanese cricket.
Praise from Delhi Capitals’ Head Coach
Delhi Capitals head coach Jonathan Batty has already been impressed by Chandel’s work ethic, describing her as an “absolute gem.”
“She has been great. She’s a real bundle of energy and joy. She’s really bought into the environment,” Batty told India TV. “She has knowledge and decent experience playing in different conditions, and for her to come here is really special. She’s part of our support bowling unit, and we’re taking care of her throughout the tournament.”
Who is Ahilya Chandel?
Born on January 10, 2003, to an Indian father and a Japanese mother, Chandel’s cricketing journey was inspired by her father’s passion for the sport. A left-arm pacer who honed her skills playing cricket in Australia, she made her international debut for Japan on October 27, 2022, in a WT20I against Hong Kong during the Women’s East Asia Cup.
Although she finished with figures of 0/21 in that match, Chandel has since established herself as Japan’s frontline pacer and their highest wicket-taker in women’s T20 cricket. With a bowling action reminiscent of Australian legend Mitchell Starc, she has taken 30 wickets for Japan and has also contributed over 200 runs with the bat.
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A Record-Breaking Double Hat-Trick
Chandel’s best bowling figures came against the People’s Republic of China in the 2024 Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Women’s Premier Cup, where she took 4/8 in just 2.5 overs. This performance included a double hat-trick—four wickets in four consecutive deliveries—making her the first Japanese cricketer and only the fourth in women’s T20Is to achieve this rare feat.
Her spell played a pivotal role in Japan’s four-wicket victory, earning her the Player of the Match award. The other three bowlers to have achieved a double hat-trick in women’s T20Is are Germany’s Anuradha Doddaballapur, Botswana’s Shameelah Mosweu, and Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong.
As Ahilya Chandel continues to turn heads in the Delhi Capitals nets, her journey could mark a significant milestone for Japanese cricket on the global stage.
