In the glitzy realm of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where dreams are auctioned and talents find their worth, the narrative of Vrinda Dinesh emerged as a testament to the connection between raw potential and golden opportunities. Vrinda’s dreams unfolded in Mumbai during the WPL auction, leaving cricket enthusiasts captivated by the spirited pursuit of emerging talent.
This 22-year-old prodigious opener from Karnataka became the focal point of attention, orchestrating a bidding war that echoed through the auction halls. With a modest base price of Rs 10 lakh, her journey to stardom began when Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Giants engaged in a fierce tussle for her services. The prices soared, breaching the Rs 80 lakh mark, until RCB bowed out. Seizing the moment, UP Warriorz clinched the batter for a staggering Rs 1.3 crore, etching her name in the league’s annals.
After she was roped in for a life-changing amount, Vrinda’s coach at the NICE Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, Arjun Dev, who is also the coach of Shreyanka Patil, sounded ecstatic.
“Shreyanka and Vrinda came to us more or less at the same time. I work closely with Shreyanka while my partner and colleague Kiran Oppoor work with Vrinda. He invested all his time and energy on Vrinda and it is a great feeling that all the hard work is paying off and people are noticing it now. It’s crazy,” Arjun told RevSportz.
Vrinda’s ascendancy is not a fleeting phenomenon. It’s a story high on consistency and hard-earned recognition in the women’s cricket circuit. As a local sensation, she had been scaling new heights in the Karnataka league for the past two years.
Asked about Vrinda’s hard work off-the-field in the last two years, Arjun said: “It is kind of a two-year project for Kiran and Vrinda where we wanted to make sure that she becomes a fearless player. It’s not necessarily aimed only towards the WPL. First, she is blessed with a great technique. She is a proper batter, probably born to bat. She has the ability to score consistent runs.
“If you look at her 50-over scores, it’s all about consistency. From there, we wanted her to focus not only on consistency but on impact as well… Try and be a bit more impactful. She played a blinder of an innings against Bengal. There has been a bit of shift in the mindset. It’s easier said than done. Go and play fearlessly doesn’t happen quickly. It takes time off the field as well. Kiran has been really invested in her journey and thankfully it is paying off.”
Arjun thinks aggressive approach sets Vrinda apart. “Vrinda is a power play batter. She will take on bowlers, that’s what we have been working on. She can play all around the ground, plays her scoops against pacers. She has not had a vast experience of batting outside the power play because her role has been to go hard in the power play. But there’s going to be a lot more responsibility on her now. We were hoping that UP Warriorz or Gujarat Giants would take her as a back-up to their openers but going by the price, I guess, she will play all the games if all goes well,” Arjun explained.
Her journey to national prominence took an unexpected turn during the ACC Emerging Teams Cup when, initially left out of the squad, she found herself thrust into the spotlight as a substitute for S Yashasri. In the grand finale, on a surface that demanded resilience, Vrinda’s willow orchestrated a symphony of 36 off 29 balls and turning heads in the fraternity.
This was not an isolated display of her prowess. Earlier in the year, Vrinda played a pivotal role in Karnataka’s charge to the Senior Women’s ODI Trophy final, amassing an impressive tally of 477 runs in 11 innings, at an average of 47.70. Her contributions spoke volumes, underlining her ability to thrive under pressure and elevate her team’s fortunes.
But will there be any price tag pressure on Vrinda?
“It’s early to say. I guess there will be a lot of chatter among the players and her teammates, especially those who went in the first auction at the base price. They are going to be reminding her about that. It’s like when KC Cariappa went to KKR for Rs 2.4 crore. I am sure, it will play a part. But yes, that’s when Kiran and I have to come in and make sure she stays grounded,” Arjun said.
And what about when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on UP Warriorz with Shreyanka on her mark to bowl to Vrinda?
“Kiran and I go to the ground when they play the selection games, KPL and other matches. You play her around. Take on the other bowlers but play her around. But yes, I guess there will be a big UP vs RCB rivalry in our academy,” Arjun signed off, bursting out in laughter.