Kelis Ndhlovu

Kelis Ndhlovu (born 16 November 2005) is a Zimbabwean cricketer who plays for the Zimbabwe women's national cricket team.^[2] She is an all-rounder, who plays as a left-arm orthodox bowler and a left-hand batter. Her father Eddie Ndhlovu is a well-known filmmaker in the country.^[3]

She took most wickets in the 2022 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in the UAE.^[4] She represented Zimbabwe in 2023 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup. In 2024, she won Player of the Tournament as Zimbabwe won gold medal in the African Games.

On 19 April 2023, she became the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul for Zimbabwe in women's ODIs.^[5][6]

Ndhlovu took the game of cricket at primary school as her friend convinced her to take it. Her friend's mother wanted her friend to take cricket which made Ndhlovu and her friend play together. Though her friend dropped from the sport, she continued playing. When she was in Grade Three, she set herself target to "take either player, batter or bowler of the match, or fielder of the tournament" in every game she plays.

She did her primary schooling at Prince Edward School at Harare. Later she studied at Sake 3 High, followed by Wise Owl. She is simultaneously pursuing her studies, along with playing cricket for her country. She utilizes private tutors and when on a tour, she takes online classes.^[7] She said that she "stays up till 3am every day studying".

She idolizes Zimbabwean players Modester Mupachikwa and Milton Shumba.^[8]

Ndhlovu at the age of 16, has won two titles for Eagles in the span of five months.^[9] On 20 April 2022, Ndhlovu made her international debut for Zimbabwe against Namibia in Capricorn Tri-Series at Windhoek. Four days later, she scored her maiden T20I fifty. She then shared a 156-run unbeaten partnership with Sharne Mayers, which she described as "the best moment ever". Later in the year, she played in the 2022 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier in UAE, where she was the leading wicket taker with 11 wickets. Already having senior international experience, she played for Zimbabwe in the 2023 Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup. Prior to the tournament, she was part of the three-week U19 training camp and a preparatory tour against South Africa. In March 2023, she scored her maiden List-A century, with a score of 109 off 102 balls for Eagles against Rhinos. She made her ODI debut nearly an year after T20I debut, on 19 April 2023 against Thailand.

She took a five-wicket haul for 22 runs on her debut, although Zimbabwe ended in losing cause.^[10] At the age of 17 years and 154 days, she then became the third youngest woman to take a five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.^[11] She took ten wickets at an average of 5.80 in her debut series, despite her side being whitewashed 0-3. In February 2024, she took four wickets for just nine runs in a twenty-over game against OMTEX Cricket Institute in Mumbai.^[12] She represented Zimbabwe in 2024 African Games in March 2024 (first edition of African Games to feature cricket), and hit the winning runs against South Africa Emerging team, to seal the gold medal.^[13] She was named as Player of the Match in the final as well as Player of the Tournament in the African Games. She was invited to take part in 2024 FairBreak Invitational in Antigua.^[14]

Ndhlovu has been nominated for ICC Women's Player of the Month for April 2023.^[15] She then became the youngest player to be nominated for the ICC monthly award.^[16]

• Kelis Ndhlovu at ESPNcricinfo