Visakhapatnam: If someone had asked Sree Charani at the start of the year where she would see herself by year-end, representing India in the women’s World Cup would have seemed unlikely.
Yet, here she is, the first cricketer from Andhra – male or female – to proudly represent her country in a World Cup. Following a commendable debut at home against South Africa, the 21-year-old left-arm spinner truly shone against Australia in a high-scoring encounter. She finished with impressive figures of 3/41, notably taking the crucial wickets of Alyssa Healy, Phoebe Litchfield, and Annabel Sutherland.
India’s coach, Amol Muzumdar, was full of praise for the young talent. “Sree Charani has been exceptional. Against a top-quality side like Australia, she conceded just 40-odd runs in her 10 overs, and her ability to pick up those vital wickets was truly impressive,” he remarked.
Charani’s remarkable journey from the small town of Yerramala Palle in Kadapa district to the national Indian team is nothing short of inspirational. After a few promising appearances in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), she made her One Day International (ODI) debut for India against Sri Lanka in April, followed by her T20 International debut against England in June. Her T20I debut saw her claim an astounding 4/12, and she concluded the England tour as the highest wicket-taker with 10 scalps, rapidly securing her spot in the World Cup squad.
What makes this ascent even more extraordinary is that cricket wasn’t Charani’s first passion. She explored various sports, including badminton, kabaddi, and athletics, and only began playing cricket at the age of 16, influenced by her uncle, Kishore Kumar Reddy, who played in his leisure time.