Saika Ishaque went from being a relatively under-the-radar domestic spinner to one of the breakout names of the inaugural Women’s Premier League. Her left-arm orthodox bowling immediately caught attention in 2023, when she helped Mumbai Indians win the first WPL title and finished among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. Later that year, the Bengal cricketer earned her India debut. Her journey is a useful reminder that domestic consistency can change a player’s career very quickly.
Quick Summary
- Full name: Saika Ishaque
- Born: October 8, 1995
- Birthplace: Kolkata, West Bengal
- Age: 30 as of September 1, 2026
- Role: Bowler
- Batting: Left-handed
- Bowling: Slow left-arm orthodox
- Domestic team: Bengal
- WPL team: Mumbai Indians
- International team: India
- T20I debut: December 6, 2023, against England
- ODI debut: December 28, 2023, against Australia
Who Is Saika Ishaque?
Saika Ishaque is an Indian left-arm spinner from Kolkata who represents Bengal in domestic cricket and Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League. Her main strength is slow left-arm orthodox bowling, while she bats left-handed lower down the order.
Her rise became particularly noticeable during the inaugural WPL season. Mumbai Indians signed her at the 2023 auction for her base price of ₹10 lakh, and she quickly proved to be one of the competition’s most effective bowlers. She finished the tournament with 15 wickets in 10 matches according to the career record cited by the IPL profile, ranking second among the wicket-takers.
That performance changed the trajectory of her career. By December 2023, Ishaque had received her first India call-up and made her international debut.
Saika Ishaque Age and Personal Profile
How old is Saika Ishaque?
Saika Ishaque was born on October 8, 1995, in Kolkata, West Bengal. As of September 1, 2026, she is 30 years old. Her date of birth is listed by multiple cricket-profile sources.
Her age is worth considering in the context of her career. Ishaque spent years developing in domestic cricket before receiving the kind of national attention that arrived with the WPL. Her story wasn’t an overnight transformation; the WPL simply gave a much larger audience a chance to see what she had already been building.
Playing Style
Ishaque is primarily a bowler. She delivers slow left-arm orthodox spin and bats left-handed. Her bowling style gives captains a useful option against batters who struggle to attack spin through the middle overs.
Saika Ishaque Stats and Career Record
The most interesting part of Ishaque’s statistical profile is the difference between her domestic, WPL and international numbers.
Available career records list 60 WT20 appearances, 52 wickets and a best of 4/6 in the record captured by CricketArchive’s player data. Her List A record in that source stands at 53 matches and 60 wickets, including a five-wicket haul of 5/30.
Her early domestic performances were important in establishing her credentials. In the 2021 Women’s Challenger Trophy, for example, she took three wickets in four List A matches and produced an economy rate of 3.50 across 33.4 overs.
A snapshot of the available career record is:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women’s First-Class | 15 | 126 | 23 | 4/49 |
| Women’s List A | 53 | 220 | 60 | 5/30 |
| Women’s T20 | 60 | 124 | 52 | 4/6 |
These figures come from the career record published in the referenced player data and should be treated as a historical statistical snapshot rather than a live career total.
Saika Ishaque WPL Career: Where She Made Her Name
The Saika Ishaque WPL story really begins with the inaugural tournament in 2023.
Mumbai Indians bought her for ₹10 lakh, and the decision quickly looked like a bargain. Ishaque took 15 wickets in 10 matches during the season, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker and helping Mumbai Indians win the inaugural WPL title.
The breakthrough was not simply about the number of wickets. Her left-arm spin gave Mumbai Indians another way to attack in the middle overs, and she handled the pressure of a brand-new competition remarkably well.
Her WPL form also helped create the bridge between domestic cricket and the Indian national side.
WPL Performance After 2023
Ishaque continued with Mumbai Indians after her breakthrough campaign. The IPL profile records 10 wickets in nine matches during the 2024 season and shows her continuing with the franchise in subsequent editions.
The 2025 WPL season was another chapter in that association, while Mumbai Indians retained her for the competition. Her franchise career has therefore been closely tied to the development of the WPL itself.
When Did Saika Ishaque Make Her India Debut?
Ishaque made her T20I debut for India against England on December 6, 2023, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. She followed that with her ODI debut against Australia on December 28, 2023.
Her international arrival came remarkably quickly after her WPL breakthrough.
According to the available career information, Ishaque played three T20Is and took five wickets, with best figures of 3/22. She also played one ODI without taking a wicket in the recorded international snapshot.
Her T20I debut series demonstrated why selectors were interested in her. A left-arm spinner capable of taking wickets rather than simply containing runs can be particularly valuable in the shortest format.
She was also included in India’s Test squad for the South Africa series in June 2024, although the cited profile states that she had not played a Test match as of late 2025.
From Bengal Cricket to the WPL Spotlight
Before the WPL changed her visibility, Ishaque had already spent years playing domestic cricket for Bengal. Her domestic debut came in 2013, according to the available career profiles.
That long domestic background matters.
Players do not usually become international-quality cricketers because of one tournament. The WPL gave Ishaque a bigger stage, but the foundation was built through years of state-level cricket.
One of the moments that helped raise her profile came when she represented Bengal against Punjab and dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia with successive deliveries. That performance helped bring attention to her bowling ability.
Her development also included appearances for India A and India D Women, giving her experience beyond state cricket before the senior international call-up.
What Makes Saika Ishaque’s Bowling Effective?
The obvious attraction is the angle.
A left-arm orthodox spinner creates a different challenge for right-handed batters compared with a conventional right-arm spinner. The variation in angle, trajectory and turn can make scoring uncomfortable when the bowler finds the right length.
Ishaque’s record suggests that wicket-taking has been an important part of her game. Her domestic List A record includes 60 wickets and a five-wicket haul, while her T20 record includes a best of 4/6.
That wicket-taking instinct was also visible in her first WPL season. Instead of merely bowling defensively, she was willing to attack batters and search for dismissals.
For a T20 team, that can be a significant difference.
Key Takeaways
- Saika Ishaque was born on October 8, 1995, in Kolkata.
- She is a slow left-arm orthodox spinner and left-handed batter.
- She represents Bengal domestically and Mumbai Indians in the WPL.
- Mumbai Indians bought her for ₹10 lakh at the inaugural WPL auction.
- She took 15 wickets in the 2023 WPL, finishing second on the tournament wicket-takers’ list.
- She made her India T20I debut against England on December 6, 2023.
- She made her ODI debut against Australia on December 28, 2023.
- Her recorded T20I international snapshot includes five wickets in three matches, with best figures of 3/22.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saika Ishaque’s age?
Saika Ishaque was born on October 8, 1995, in Kolkata. She is 30 years old as of September 1, 2026, based on the date of birth listed by major cricket-profile sources.
What are Saika Ishaque’s main cricket stats?
Her recorded career snapshot includes 60 Women’s T20 matches and 52 wickets, while her List A record includes 53 matches and 60 wickets. Her best List A bowling figure is 5/30.
How many wickets did Saika Ishaque take in the 2023 WPL?
Saika Ishaque took 15 wickets in 10 matches during the inaugural WPL season, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker and helping Mumbai Indians win the first WPL title.
When did Saika Ishaque make her India debut?
She made her T20I debut against England on December 6, 2023, at Wankhede Stadium. Her ODI debut followed against Australia on December 28, 2023.
Conclusion
Saika Ishaque’s career is a strong example of how domestic cricket and the WPL can provide a pathway to the international game. Years with Bengal gave her the foundation; her outstanding 2023 WPL campaign put her in the spotlight. The India call-up followed soon after. With her left-arm orthodox spin and proven wicket-taking ability, Ishaque remains an interesting name to follow whenever India’s women’s spin options are discussed.
