WPL 2024: RCB's Asha Sobhana revels in Arsenal, Leandro Trossard and Anil Kumble connection after historic five-for

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Asha Shobana celebrates the wicket of UP Warriorz' Kiran Navgire during a ‘Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024’ T20 cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and UP Warriorz, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru. (Photo: PTI)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) legspinner Asha Sobhana’s historic five-wicket haul against UP Warriorz (UPW) on Saturday made her the first Indian to achieve the feat in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). A staple in her celebrations for the majority of those five wickets was a gesture — hands cupped around her eyes to form goggles — that caught the eye of many.

Fresh off the accomplishment, Asha, who was among the players the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB retained from the inaugural season, explained the genesis of the celebration that became one of the many highlights of RCB’s nail-biting two-run win against UPW at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“I watch a lot of football. I am a fan of the Arsenal team. Being a fellow ‘Gooner’, I brought out the [Leandro] Trossard celebration. He is one of the Arsenal players,” she said during a virtual press conference organised by the franchise on Sunday afternoon. “As a kid, I used to make bats out of coconut tree [barks] and put the number “10” on it, as though it was [Sachin] Tendulkar’s bat. As a kid I used to do all those stuff. I thought this was my moment, at the age of 32.”

Asha Sobhana. (Photo courtesy RCB)

In taking the five-for, Asha (unwittingly) emulated former India legspinner and captain Anil Kumble. While Asha’s feat came in the second match of the WPL’s second season, Kumble got to his — 5 for 5 against Rajasthan Royals — in the second match of the second iteration of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009. Coincidence much? Sure, but it wasn't the only one involving Kumble that Asha experienced lately, it turns out.

“I didn't know about the five-wicket haul of Anil sir in the second match of the second season of the IPL but it's also a coincidence — and I'm glad — that I got to meet him a couple of days ago here in Bangalore. I told him, “Sir, when you took 10 wickets [in a Test innings against Pakistan in 1999], I watched you live on TV and I was really inspired.’” And he was like, ‘Oh, good, [it's] very good to hear those words,' and he wished me well for the match. He asked me, ‘Are you playing on the 24th?’” I said, “Yes sir, I think so. So, that was also a coincidence.”

Asha’s returns of 5 for 22 off her full allocation of four overs included the wickets of Vrinda Dinesh and Tahlia McGrath in the ninth over and Shweta Sehrawat, Grace Harris and Kiran Navgire — all in the momentum-changing 17th over.

Asked about the ebbs and flows of RCB’s successful 157-run defence and the role she played in their win, Asha said: “We knew that some matches would come this close and we were expecting such situations to come and pull over the game, so I feel good about it.”

Asha Sobhana. (Photo courtesy RCB)

“At the moment, I'm trying to not be [consumed with] over-enjoyment,” she added. “I just want to be in the present. Of course, I enjoyed my five-wicket haul but I don't want to get excited too much. Tomorrow is a fresh day and I'm looking forward to it.

“In domestic cricket, I worked so hard playing for 15 years and now getting the recognition, I'm feeling so relieved to finally get the recognition I deserve. I am very happy.”

If Asha is able to replicate Saturday’s success through the remainder of the WPL, chances are more people around the world might take note of her celebration. And who knows if Kumble and Trossard themselves could be among them?