“It is a feel thing, release the ball just behind your head” – a technical point that Brett Lee, the former Australian fast bowler, talks about when it comes to landing a yorker. But that is in theory. In reality, it has become rather difficult to usher in the toe-crusher, especially in an era where a slew of batters move around in the crease. In that context, it was a commendable achievement from Sayali Satghare to nail a string of yorkers in the Senior Women’s One-Day Competition game between Mumbai and Delhi, played in December last year.
While chasing down a massive total, Delhi needed just seven in the last over, but Sayali came to Mumbai’s rescue. “In that quarterfinal against Delhi, we scored 321. They needed seven off the last over and we tied the game,” Sayali told RevSportz. “I was bowling the last over. Luckily, all the practice came through in that match, I bowled six yorkers on the trot. Then we won it in the Super Over. We chased down 17-18 in the Super Over. That is one game I will never forget.”
The all-rounder’s exploits aren’t just down to bowling the yorkers. She also employed a fine short ball in the domestic T20 final versus Bengal last year. More importantly, at the age of just 24, she showcased some smarts while bowling to Richa Ghosh. While poring through a few old videos, it could be observed that Richa’s strategy was to disrupt Sayali’s lengths by taking a few steps down the ground. Sayali chiseled out a way against that plan by using a delivery that was fuller and relatively wide of off stump.
Ultimately, she dismissed the batter with a short delivery that was around head height and slightly away from her zone. All that Richa could do with her attempted hook shot was to spoon a catch to the mid-on fielder. “I have practised the short ball a lot, it was great to see that it worked,” said Sayali. “Everyone knows how destructive Richa can be, so it was good for us to get her out.”
Scrolling through the opening paragraphs would make you wonder if Sayali is one of those in-your-face, aggressive cricketers. But from her childhood days, hidden beneath the pace bowler’s exterior was a quiet and unassuming girl. Here’s an anecdote that tells us more on how and when Sayali picked up the sport at a young age. It also gives us an insight into her simple and self-effacing nature.
“I started playing when I was five or six years old,” she said. “I used to play in my building with my brothers. One of my cousin brothers joined an academy. All of them at my home told me, ‘If you also like playing cricket, then you can go and see.’ In that way, I joined the academy. For the first few days, I was just going there and watching how all the boys were doing.
“I think someone hit a shot and the ball came to me, and I threw it back to the bowler. The coach there noticed it and he asked me, ‘Do you want to play?’ I was quite shy at that time. For two-three more days, I still sat there. Later on, I said, ‘I want to play.’ I then played two-three years of Under-10 cricket, and I was the only girl in that.
“We also won the 2011 World Cup final. That was just crazy. We were out on the streets, celebrating. That was the first moment when I felt like I wanted to be a cricketer. Maybe someday, I want to win the World Cup for India.”
What about her family? Were they encouraging of her passion? “They have always been very supportive,” said Sayali. “My dad (Ganesh) used to play cricket during the holidays. First, it was my dad’s dream to become a professional cricketer, to play for India. They were supporting me in everything that I wanted to do. I am lucky to have such a family around me.
“The ground that I went to, my grandfather used to go to play carrom. My mother (Swati) was a little hesitant to let me play cricket. She is an engineer; she wanted me to study as well. It was not on terms like ‘don’t play’, but it was about focusing on studies as well. The coach there spoke with my grandfather, and said, ‘She is good, I will train her. You should convince her parents.’ Grandfather then spoke to my parents. That is how they were convinced, especially my mom. One thing she said was ‘Even if you’re playing, you shouldn’t ignore your studies or classes.’”
Sayali’s work ethic, discipline and some noteworthy performances in domestic cricket paid off as she was bought by Gujarat Giants for the 2024 WPL. Here, too, there was a small twist in the tale as Sayali was an injury replacement for Kashvee Gautam. Destiny had smiled on one player and not so much on the other. “I was first signed as a net bowler by RCB,” said Sayali. “There was a chance of going to RCB as well. I think Kanika Ahuja also was injured. For the first two-three days, I had a lot of calls from Giants and they picked me as a replacement.
“We had just finished practice in the RCB camp and (were) coming back to the hotel. I had to change my hotel and go to the Gujarat team. It felt great because three months earlier, when the auction happened, I was not picked. I was not expecting to be part of the WPL. When RCB signed me, I was happy that I would at least be a part of the circuit and (get to know) what I need to work on. But then to be actually picked in the side was great. Two-three months before, I never pictured myself there. To be also retained this year, it feels good.”
Her maiden appearance in the WPL was also attached with an unexpected turn of events. D Hemalatha was struck on the forehead while looking to pouch a catch against Delhi Capitals. Sayali then became the first concussion substitute in the history of WPL. “She didn’t go to bat, and I think we were four wickets down,” said Sayali. “At that time, the coach (Michael Klinger) told me, ‘You’re going in as a substitute.’ I had padded up, I was just happy to be there on the field, I was not thinking about anything else, trying to soak in the environment. There was a big crowd in Bengaluru.”
That Sayali was asked to bat in place of Hemalatha is also a sign of her potential with the willow. In fact, she has close to 700 runs in List-A cricket. Just a glimpse at her Instagram account, and it’s noticeable that she has a penchant for lofting the spinners straight down the ground. As Sayali says, “I was always into both (disciplines). I just naturally started pace bowling. I used to like batting a lot. Even now, I can bat for the whole day.”
Sayali also shares insights related to upgrading her skills, especially her wrist position. “I have worked on my rhythm,” she said. “If I am running well, I bowl well. Going through the crease, the wrist position, and (upskilled) my variations that we need to bowl now. I mainly worked on my wrist position because it used to drop a little. In the younger days, it used to go like a leg-cutter. Constantly working on that, keeping the wrist firmly behind the ball, I can use it to swing the ball both ways. If you’re in control of your wrist, you can bowl the bouncer, yorker…”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that destiny yet again rewarded Sayali’s perseverance. On January 10, 2025, the all-rounder made her ODI debut, against Ireland. Sayali’s first over didn’t exactly go according to the plan, but she soon settled into a rhythm and bagged the wicket of Arlene Kelly. “It was great, I have been waiting for it for such a long time,” she said. “To finally be there is a dream come true. In the first over itself, I understood the lengths that you bowl in domestic cricket and the lengths that you bowl at the higher level… you need to alter your lengths a little bit.
“After the first over, Smriti (Mandhana) was there at mid-off, she was communicating with me, what I should do, what lengths I should bowl, and that helped. I guess there were a few nerves too. After that, I went to my fielding position, calmed myself down.”
Sayali’s maiden ODI appearance also has a short story attached to it. Saima Thakor, her Mumbai teammate and one of Sayali’s best friends, was the one who presented her with the coveted cap. “We have been friends for 10-12 years now,” said Sayali. “We have seen each other’s journey from the start. So, it was special having her give that speech during the cap presentation.
“Training together, playing domestic cricket for 8-9 years. We know each other’s games too. Having her there also helped. It felt like just another game. We used to practice from 7 AM to 7 PM. We learnt so much about each other during that time. Sometimes, there are days when you don’t perform well, you can go and speak to her. She is also a fast bowler, so any advice she can give, it always helps you.”
Sayali comes across as a cricketer who seems to know when to switch on and switch off from cricket. As she notes, “Outside of cricket, I like to read books, sometimes I like to paint. So, sometimes I carry my tools to draw and paint.” Fingers crossed that a heady mixture of destiny, temperament and talent will continue to guide Sayali in her future endeavours.