WPL | I get wickets with the googly because batters can’t read it: Priya Mishra

Upgrade: Priya is aware of her strengths and is keen on fine-tuning her skills.
| Photo Credit: Sportzpics

Priya Mishra slots into the archetype of a modern-day leg-spinner favouring the bustling nature of the white-ball formats.

All of 20 years old, the diminutive bowler from Delhi likes to home in on the stumps and deceive batters with a well-masked wrong ’un as opposed to giving her leg-break a mighty rip.

Over the past few months, her skills, though still raw, have been on display to a wider world. Having made her ODI debut for India, against New Zealand, in October 2024, she has shown that she can handle herself just fine by pouching 15 scalps in her first nine appearances.

She is also part of Gujarat Giants in the ongoing Women’s Premier League, where six matches have yielded five wickets. Among those who have been impressed are Ashleigh Gardner and Mithali Raj.

While the googly is a predominant feature of her wicket-taking ammunition, Priya is aware of the importance of the stock leg-break too.

“I get wickets with the googly because batters can’t read it,” Priya told The Hindu, an impish grin lighting up her face, on Wednesday. “I do try to bowl leg-breaks as much as possible so that batters focus on that delivery and aren’t ready when I bowl the googly.”

Idol

Priya, of course, is in the process of learning the tricks of her hard-to-master craft. Asked whether she has an idol in the game, the short-haired rookie extolled the virtues of the late Shane Warne. 

“(Shane) Warne is someone I have followed a lot. From the time I found out that Warne is like the best leg-spinner ever, I wanted to be like him. I have seen a lot of his videos on YouTube and Instagram. I would save the ones I liked and keep watching them. Friends would also send me clips of his bowling,” Priya said.