BENGALURU: On December 2, 2018, teenager Vrinda Dinesh’s budding cricket career was at the crossroads. On the day, she had scored seven runs against Gujarat for Karnataka in the BCCI senior women’s One-Day Trophy. In the previous match against Bengal, her maiden outing, she had returned a mere eight runs. It put her place in the team under the scanner and she failed to make the playing XI for 22 matches thereafter.
Cut to 2021, on the same day, she is preparing to represent India ‘A’ at the BCCI Challenger Trophy beginning in Vijayawada on Saturday.
The turnaround in the 20-year-old’s career came about in the same tournament this year. Having earned her place back in the playing line-up, the top-order batter made the opportunity count.
The opener scored a patient 135-ball 100 against Uttar Pradesh on October 31, her first ever century. The Bengaluru girl didn’t stop there. The next day she scored a 113-ball 104 against Pondicherry and two days later smashed back-to-back unbeaten fifties against Chhattisgarh (67) and Baroda (69). In the tournament, in which Karnataka ended up as runners-up, Vrinda scored 348 runs from six innings at an average of 87, emerging the top run-getter for the state.
“It was quite depressing when you are not part of the side and later no cricket happened because of Covid-19. However, I worked hard, followed my routine, maintained fitness and once the restrictions relaxed, I worked with my coach. That way, I was fully ready for the call and the hard work paid off,” said Vrinda.
Vrinda said when got selected for the one-day trophy, she didn’t expect scoring centuries. “Honestly, I didn’t think of it. All I wanted was to get in there, experience it and enjoy it. Never thought about the outcome but stayed in the present and took one ball at a time,” she said. The 20-year-old also credited the team for backing her. “Even our tail-enders can bat very well. So there was never pressure on us. Our bench strength is also very good, and they are capable of replacing anyone in the playing XI.” “Our captain Veda Krishnamurthy was also a great motivation for all of us. The way she led the side, she ensured everybody enjoyed the game. Our coach Mamatha Maben and assistant coach Rachel Vinod Shetty were also a great help for us. They gave us the sessions that were required, ensured we played enough practice matches despite the short duration we got for preparation,” she added.
Currently in quarantine, Vrinda pointed out that the focus was on keeping it simple and enjoying the game. “I am not going to let the pressure of Challenger affect me. I am looking forward to doing well. I hope the performance would help me get into the national side.”
“This will be a great opportunity for me to understand how players from different parts of the country are approaching the game, how they handle situations and how to bring out the best in you when the team wants it. It is also an opportunity to tap into the experience of international cricketers,” added Vrinda, who trains under Kiran Uppoor at Nice Cricket Academy in Yelahanka.
Influenced by cricketers in the family, Vrinda took up the sport at the age of 13. Her father S Dinesh and brother Rajath played club cricket while uncle Bharath Bhushan represented Karnataka at the U-19 and U-22 levels. Vrinda showed her flair for the sport quickly and was selected for the state U-19 squad the same year and later captained U-16 and U-19 sides. She started as a medium-pacer and later switched to batting.
Cut to 2021, on the same day, she is preparing to represent India ‘A’ at the BCCI Challenger Trophy beginning in Vijayawada on Saturday.
The turnaround in the 20-year-old’s career came about in the same tournament this year. Having earned her place back in the playing line-up, the top-order batter made the opportunity count.
The opener scored a patient 135-ball 100 against Uttar Pradesh on October 31, her first ever century. The Bengaluru girl didn’t stop there. The next day she scored a 113-ball 104 against Pondicherry and two days later smashed back-to-back unbeaten fifties against Chhattisgarh (67) and Baroda (69). In the tournament, in which Karnataka ended up as runners-up, Vrinda scored 348 runs from six innings at an average of 87, emerging the top run-getter for the state.
“It was quite depressing when you are not part of the side and later no cricket happened because of Covid-19. However, I worked hard, followed my routine, maintained fitness and once the restrictions relaxed, I worked with my coach. That way, I was fully ready for the call and the hard work paid off,” said Vrinda.
Vrinda said when got selected for the one-day trophy, she didn’t expect scoring centuries. “Honestly, I didn’t think of it. All I wanted was to get in there, experience it and enjoy it. Never thought about the outcome but stayed in the present and took one ball at a time,” she said. The 20-year-old also credited the team for backing her. “Even our tail-enders can bat very well. So there was never pressure on us. Our bench strength is also very good, and they are capable of replacing anyone in the playing XI.” “Our captain Veda Krishnamurthy was also a great motivation for all of us. The way she led the side, she ensured everybody enjoyed the game. Our coach Mamatha Maben and assistant coach Rachel Vinod Shetty were also a great help for us. They gave us the sessions that were required, ensured we played enough practice matches despite the short duration we got for preparation,” she added.
Currently in quarantine, Vrinda pointed out that the focus was on keeping it simple and enjoying the game. “I am not going to let the pressure of Challenger affect me. I am looking forward to doing well. I hope the performance would help me get into the national side.”
“This will be a great opportunity for me to understand how players from different parts of the country are approaching the game, how they handle situations and how to bring out the best in you when the team wants it. It is also an opportunity to tap into the experience of international cricketers,” added Vrinda, who trains under Kiran Uppoor at Nice Cricket Academy in Yelahanka.
Influenced by cricketers in the family, Vrinda took up the sport at the age of 13. Her father S Dinesh and brother Rajath played club cricket while uncle Bharath Bhushan represented Karnataka at the U-19 and U-22 levels. Vrinda showed her flair for the sport quickly and was selected for the state U-19 squad the same year and later captained U-16 and U-19 sides. She started as a medium-pacer and later switched to batting.
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