India Blue women's cricket team explained

India Blue
Captain:	Punam Raut (50 over) Mithali Raj (20 over)
Founded:	2008
Title1:	WCT
Title1wins:	5
Title2:	WT20CT
Title2wins:	1

The India Blue women's cricket team, previously known as India A, are an Indian women's cricket team that compete in the Senior Women's Challenger Trophy and the Senior Women's T20 Challenger Trophy. The team has no geographical base, instead being made up of some of the best players from across India. They are the most successful team in the 50 over Challenger Trophy, with 5 title wins, whilst they have won the T20 Challenger Trophy once, in 2018–19.^[1]

History

India Blue were first formed in 2008, as India A, to compete in the 50 over Senior Women's Challenger Trophy, which involved three teams made up of the best players in India. In their first season, the side, captained by Rumeli Dhar, reached the final but lost to India B by 6 wickets.^{[2] [3]} The following season, the side was renamed India Blue and competed in the 2009–10 Senior Women's T20 Challenger Trophy, again reaching the final after topping the group stage, but losing out to India Green.^[4]

India Blue won their first title in 2010–11, winning the 50 over trophy after topping the group then beating India Green in the final by 7 wickets.^{[5] [6]} After losing in the final in 2011–12, India Blue then won three titles in a row, in 2012–13, 2013–14 and 2015, each time finishing second in their group before beating India Red in the final.^{[7] [8] [9] [10]}

India Blue again reached the final in 2016–17, but lost to India Red, before regaining their title in 2017–18.^{[11] [12]} The 2018–19 season saw the return of the T20 competition alongside the 50 over competition, and India Blue reached the final of both, winning the T20 final but losing the 50 over final.^{[13] [14]} In 2019–20, the 50 over Challenger Trophy was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the T20 Challenger Trophy was competed with different teams.^[15]

Seasons

Senior Women's Challenger Trophy

Season	League standings								Final standing
	P	W	L	T	NR	NRR	Pts	Pos
2008–09	2	1	1	0	0	–0.010	2	2nd	Lost final
2010–11	2	1	0	0	1	+0.860	7	1st	Champions
2011–12	2	2	0	0	0	+1.280	10	1st	Lost final
2012–13	2	1	1	0	0	–1.115	5	2nd	Champions
2013–14	2	1	1	0	0	+0.540	4	2nd	Champions
2015	2	1	1	0	0	+0.220	4	2nd	Champions
2016–17	2	2	0	0	0	+0.240	8	1st	Lost final
2017–18	2	1	1	0	0	–0.192	4	2nd	Champions
2018–19	2	2	0	0	0	+0.514	8	1st	Lost final

Senior Women's T20 Challenger Trophy

Season	League standings								Final standing
	P	W	L	T	NR	NRR	Pts	Pos
2009–10	2	1	1	0	0	+0.177	4	1st	Lost final
2018–19	4	2	2	0	0	+0.654	8	2nd	Champions

Honours

• Senior Women's Challenger Trophy:
  • Winners (5): 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015 & 2017–18
• Senior Women's T20 Challenger Trophy:
  • Winners (1): 2018–19

Notes and References

1. Web site: India Blue Women . CricketArchive . 6 August 2021.
2. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2008/09 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
3. Web site: India A Women v India B Women, 5 October 2008 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
4. Web site: Women's Twenty20 Challenger Trophy 2009/10 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
5. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2010/11 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
6. Web site: India Blue Women v India Green Women, 12 December 2010 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
7. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2011/12 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
8. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2012/13 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
9. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2013/14 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
10. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2015 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
11. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2016/17 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
12. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2017/18 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
13. Web site: Women's Challenger Trophy 2018/19 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
14. Web site: Women's Twenty20 Challenger Trophy 2018/19 . CricketArchive . 7 August 2021.
15. Web site: COVID-19: Women's domestic cricket takes a big hit as fate of 168 matches remains uncertain . The Times of India . 7 August 2021.