Women’s cricket in India is no more determined by just the performance at the international games, rather it is also quietly being nurtured and developed at the grassroots level. These domestic level tournaments are giving women the adequate exposure that they need and the scope of showcasing their talent at the highest level after getting noticed, while still being of very young age. The under 15 One Day Trophy Elite tournament, which took place at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Sunday, has been no exception to that. Batting first, Andhra Pradesh posted a gigantic target of 472 runs on the scoreboard, and the innings included a monumental double century from young talent, Pushpita Gowda.
The young batter played with a strike rate of 207.07 which is massive in ODI games. She hit 6 sixes but 31 fours in total, and played with a strike rate of above 200 which shows that her innings was a display of not only her brute force but also her technique, timing and gap finding ability.Earlier, it was batter Deeya Yadav who had scored a 213 not out vs Tripura, which also happens to be the second highest individual score in under 15 women’s one day tournament.
With pivotal leagues like IPL and WPL giving prime importance to domestic and raw talent, Deeya Yadav hit the jackpot and was picked by Delhi Capitals this year. The 16-year-old batting prodigy made headlines during the WPL auction, where she also became one of the youngest players ever to be signed in the league. She will be sharing the dressing room alongside stars like Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Laura Wolvardt, which could prove to be beneficial for her and bolster India’s bench strength in the long run.
Former Indian captain, Mithali Raj is currently the consultant in Andhra Cricket Association, and her experience coupled with her invaluable insights can act as a blessing for young aspiring cricketers.
Involving key players like her in the domestic circuit could potentially help in the overall administration of women’s cricket and take Indian Women’s cricket forward. Andhra Cricket Association Secretary Mr.Satish Babu has also been working tirelessly for the development of his state association and has proudly contributed in the nourishment of women’s cricket.
In an absolute one sided game, Andhra defeated Saurasthra by a whopping margin of 437 runs, with P. Rishika Krishnan and Sana standing out as the highest wicket takers, having 3 dismissals each.
With her tremendous display of skill, it is safe to say that perhaps Pushpita might also be walking down the same path as Deeya Yadav. She has shown incredible maturity at such a young age, and by consistently performing she might transform herself from a potential to a prodigy very soon. The foundation being laid today will define Indian women’s cricket tomorrow.
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