Priya Punia Debut, Stats, Age, Net Worth, Records, Bio & ICC Ranking

Priya Surendra Punia was born on August 6, 1996, in Jaipur, Rajasthan. She is a right-handed batter and also bowls right-arm medium pace when needed. She plays as a top-order batter for the India Women’s team and represents Delhi in domestic cricket. She is unmarried. Her career has been defined by technique and patience, building innings methodically, and understanding that cricket isn’t always about speed or power, but about staying at the crease and scoring runs when required.

In a game where aggression and boundary-hitting are often prioritized, Punia embodies something older and perhaps more essential: a classical batter who understands that defense matters, who knows the value of occupying the crease, and who can play a long innings for her team when needed. She has played a limited number of international matches, but her domestic record speaks for itself. She opens the batting, and she does it well.

Early Life and Biography

Jaipur is an old city with pink walls and a history of warriors and kings. Poonia grew up there and learned to play cricket there. We don’t know much about her family or how she started playing. She keeps those details private. What we do know is that by her teenage years, she had taken cricket so seriously that she moved to Delhi for better opportunities.

Delhi offered more competitive cricket and better training facilities. This move meant leaving home and family behind. It required discipline. Young athletes often make such moves, but that doesn’t mean they are easy. Poonia made the move and carved out a place for herself in the Delhi cricket structure. She developed her technique there. She learned to open the batting there. By the time she was nineteen, she was ready for domestic cricket.

The decision to specialize as an opening batter shaped her career. Opening requires specific skills: the ability to face the new ball when it swings and seams, the patience to build an innings from the start, and the mental fortitude to withstand the early pressure. Poonia developed these skills through practice, matches, failures, and successes.

Domestic and International Debut

Poonia made her domestic debut for the Delhi women’s team during the 2015-16 season. She was nineteen years old. She batted in the top order and occasionally bowled medium pace. Domestic cricket in India is played without much fanfare or attention. You play because you want to play, and because you want to get better, and because you hope it will lead you somewhere.

For Poonia, it provided an opportunity to consistently score runs. She became a regular opening batter for Delhi. She was known for her solid technique, patience at the crease, and consistency in the ODI format. The selectors took notice. In 2019, she was called up to the national team.

Her T20I debut came on February 6, 2019, against New Zealand. Her ODI debut was on October 9, 2019, against South Africa. The ODI format suited her game better. In one of her early ODI matches, she scored a half-century. This showed that she was ready for that level. It showed that her technique worked against international bowling.

Biography Details

Career Batting Stats

Right-Handed Batsman

Career Bowling Stats

Right-Arm Medium Bowler

(Does not bowl regularly in international cricket)

Career Fielding Stats

Career

Poonia’s international career was limited in terms of the number of matches played, but her purpose was clear. She played as a top-order batter, primarily as an opener. Between 2019 and 2024, she played a handful of ODIs and a few T20Is. Competition for opening positions in Indian women’s cricket is fierce. Established players occupy those spots. Opportunities are scarce.

She scored two ODI half-centuries. In both innings, she showcased her ability to build an innings, exercise patience, get set, and then accelerate when the opportunity arose. She played fewer matches in T20I cricket. This format demands immediate aggression, and her classical approach was better suited to the longer formats.

Her part-time right-arm medium-pace bowling was rarely utilized. She was in the team for her batting. That was her role, and she understood it. She was a reliable fielder, whether in the inner ring or the outfield. Safe hands. Good positioning. No unnecessary errors.

Her international career progressed gradually. Selections were based on team requirements and form. Throughout this period, she remained part of India’s ODI batting pool, available when needed, and working on her game when not selected. This is the reality for many international cricketers. Careers don’t follow a straight line. Opportunities are not guaranteed.

WPL Career and Teams

When the Women’s Premier League (WPL) launched in 2023, it transformed the landscape of Indian women’s cricket. Poonia was selected by Mumbai Indians Women. The team comprised international players and established Indian cricketers. Poonia’s role was clear: to provide depth to the squad, offer a backup opening option, and bring her domestic cricket experience to the team.

She didn’t play every match. In franchise cricket, with its quota for overseas players and abundance of star players, opportunities for domestic players are limited. But being part of the team mattered. The training environment improved. The competition raised the standards. The professional setup offered better facilities and coaching compared to domestic cricket.

Mumbai Indians used her as a backup opener and a squad batter. When injuries occurred or changes were needed to the team balance, she was ready. That’s her value in the WPL: being reliable, being prepared, and being able to step onto the field without compromising the team’s quality.

Playing Style and Strengths

Poonia bats in a classical style. Her defensive technique is solid, based on correct footwork and a straight bat. She is comfortable against fast bowling, playing the ball close to her body, defending well, and carefully choosing her scoring opportunities. Her game is better suited to the longer format, where building an innings is prioritized over scoring quickly.

She opens the batting because she can handle the new ball. The early overs, when the ball swings, require discipline and technique, and Poonia possesses both. She doesn’t try to dominate the bowlers immediately. She settles in first, gets her eye in, and then looks to score. This approach works well in ODI cricket, where partnerships and stability at the top of the order provide a platform for the middle-order batsmen.

Her occasional right-arm medium-pace bowling is not her main strength. Teams don’t select her primarily for her bowling. However, having a batter who can bowl a few overs when needed adds flexibility to the team combination.

Her fielding is safe and reliable. She doesn’t take spectacular diving catches, but she doesn’t drop catches either. In the inner circle, she stops the ball cleanly. In the outfield, she judges high balls well.

Records and Achievements

Poonia’s two ODI half-centuries are the biggest achievements of her international career. Both of these half-centuries came when her team needed stable batting at the top of the order. Her domestic record for Delhi Women shows consistent performance over several seasons: regularly scoring runs, providing a reliable opening partnership, and establishing herself as a dependable batter in the eyes of the selectors.

Her value to the team lies in her consistency. She offers a classic batting option in the ODI setup, possessing both technique and temperament. These qualities don’t always translate into spectacular statistics, but they are crucial for the team’s balance.

Net Worth and Earnings

Poonia’s net worth is estimated to be around one crore rupees, although no official information is available regarding this. Her income comes from BCCI match fees when she is selected for international matches, earnings from playing domestic cricket for Delhi, and her Women’s Premier League contract with Mumbai Indians.

The WPL has significantly improved earning opportunities for Indian domestic players. Before franchise cricket, it was financially difficult to sustain a career in professional cricket solely on earnings from domestic matches. The WPL has changed this equation.

Marriage and Personal Life

Priya Punia is unmarried. She stays away from the media and keeps her personal life private. In today’s world of sports, where social media presence and personal branding are becoming increasingly important, her restraint is commendable. She focuses on cricket, and that seems to be enough for her.

Read More: Taniya Bhatia Debut, Stats, Age, Net Worth, Records, Bio & ICC Ranking

Conclusion

Priya Punia’s career hasn’t been built on headlines or flashy performances. It’s built on her skill and consistent excellence. From Jaipur to Delhi, from representing India in ODIs and T20Is to playing in the WPL, she has progressed through her solid technique and consistent domestic performances. She opens the batting. She defends well. She anchors the innings when needed. In a game that often prioritizes power over patience, she embodies something precious: a classical batter who understands that staying at the crease is crucial, that technique is not outdated but fundamental, and that cricket rewards those who do the simple things well.

FAQs: Questions And Answers

Q1. When was Priya Punia born?

Priya Punia was born on 6 August 1996.

Q2. Where was Priya Punia born?

Priya Punia was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Q3. When did Priya Punia make her international debut?

Priya Punia made her international debut in 2019, first in a T20I against New Zealand and then in an ODI against South Africa.

Q4. Is Priya Punia married?

No. Priya Punia is not married. She keeps her life focused and private.

Q5. What is Priya Punia’s most notable record?

Priya Punia has scored two half-centuries for India in One Day International cricket. She has achieved these half-centuries through sheer hard work.