This Sri Lankan woman cricketer can bowl with both her hands

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has posted a reel on Facebook recently, where Sri Lanka's Shashini Gimhani has bowled with her left arm and right arm in the same over against India during the ICC Under 19 World Cup Match of India Vs Sri Lanka

Hyderabad: You may have heard or/and seen people having the talent of writing or painting with both hands with ease. But, have you ever heard of any cricketer bowling with both hands, that too, in the same over.

Sri Lankan woman cricketer Shashini Gimhani, who plays in the neighbouring nation’s under-19 women’s cricket team, bowls with both hands.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) posted a reel on Facebook recently, where Shashini Gimhani has bowled with her left and right arms in the same over against India during the ICC Under 19 World Cup Match of India Vs Sri Lanka.

Who is Shashini Gimhani?

Shashini Gimhani is an ambidextrous wrist-spinner, who became the youngest Sri Lankan to play a women’s T20I, at the age of 15 years and 144 days.

She first played in international cricket for Sri Lanka Under-19 in the Tri-series with Australia and England. During, the series, Sahashini Gimhani’s bowling drew attention of everyone and she was compared with former South Africa wrist-spinner Paul Adams.

With the mystery in her bowling action, she impressed the Sri Lankan Cricket Board selectors. “She is really gifted, she can bowl with right or left hands and also throw with both hands,” they said after her selection. She was also called a rare breed, and a mystery bowler, who is difficult to read.

What netizens say

Since the ICC released the reel on Facebook, cricket fans have expressed a variety of reactions to Gimhani’s bowling skills. While some netizens went ga ga over her ability to spin the ball with both her hands, giving a real tough time to batters, others called her ‘Jack of all trades, master of none!,’ as India defeated Sri Lanka in the match.

One Facebook user, Chris Roberts, commended Sri Lanka’s approach to cricket, saying, “One thing I love about Sri Lankan cricket is that they give unconventional cricketers a go that many other nations wouldn’t. Go well, young lady.”

Prasun Bhattacharya, another user, admired Sri Lanka’s innovative spirit: “Sri Lankans always showing us what’s possible. Love it. Just like how they redefined opening batting in ODI, wrist spinners, and slinging yorkers… and now ambidextrous bowling? Mind. Blown.”

Meanwhile, some raised questions about the legality of switching hands during an over. User Nigel Permaul asked, “Do batters inform the umpire when they switch hit?” Others have similar doubts, wondering if such a switch was allowed.

One user, Kiran Kumar, commented, “And in the end, none of her arms helped her as she gave away the most runs.”

Amid all the curiosity generated by this Sri Lankan woman cricketer, it will remain a fact that Shashini Gimhani is a gift to cricket and will continue to capture the imagination of cricket fans for a long time to come.