It’s not easy for a young up-and-comer to make an impression in a team stacked with superstars. But N. Sree Charani did just that in the recently concluded iteration of the Women’s Premier League, where she represented runner-up Delhi Capitals.

The 20-year-old left-arm spinner featured in crucial games against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians (final), leaving a lasting impression on teammates, including skipper Meg Lanning, and those watching from the stands and on TV.

With selectors keeping an eye on her domestic performances, where she proved handy with the bat too, Charani unsurprisingly earned a maiden India call-up for the Tri-Nation series involving India, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in the island nation. In her debut game against the host, she finished with two wickets, conceding just 26 runs in eight overs.

In an interview with The Hindu, the Kadapa native looked back at her maiden WPL stint, her call-up to the senior National team, how COVID-19 pandemic shaped her budding career, and more. Excerpts

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What was your initial reaction to getting the India call-up?

I was very proud of it. Playing with Harman di (Harmanpreet Kaur), Smriti (Mandhana) di, Jemi di (Jemimah Rodrigues), they are such legends of the game, and to be playing with them is a pleasure.

I knew that they would see my performances in the WPL. I had the hope that if I performed in the Multi-day Challenger (in Dehradun), I might have a chance.

When I played in that tournament, after my first match, I felt there was a chance of getting the call-up. I got a six-wicket haul, and felt like I bowled well in that match. I thought if I kept performing like this in the next few games, then I stood a chance.

Was the call-up that came for the Tri-Series validating, given all your efforts to come through the ranks?

When I officially got the news, there was a Challenger match going on. I was in the dressing room. Harleen (Deol) di and Yasthika (Bhatia) di entered, gave me the news, and congratulated me.

Actually, we sort of knew beforehand about the news because they asked us for our jersey [name, number, and size] the previous night, and I had shared it with my parents. I told them that there was a chance [of getting a call-up]. I was actually a little nervous then, wondering what would happen, and I was a little tense till I got the confirmation.

I spoke with my parents six hours after I got the official news. My mother and my uncle were very excited. Everyone was excited, honestly, but they both were a little extra happy.

Were you always into cricket, or did you try your hand at other sports in your younger days?

My father first enrolled me in badminton when I was in class six. I used to play, come home, and then start move to playing cricket. He then made me sign up for an academy in Proddatur and even complained to the coaches there that I would return home after coaching and start playing cricket without taking any rest.

I played Kho Kho in school too. Usually, I would come home and then head to play Kho Kho by 5:30pm. I used to go early, play cricket, and then go for Kho Kho.

Cricket was constantly on my mind. Even when I was going for athletics, I used to ask my father about joining a cricket academy. When I was in Class 10, he finally agreed to let me switch to cricket full time.

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How did COVID-19 affect your game?

COVID-19 helped me a lot, actually. There was a mud ground near my house, I used to work on both batting and bowling there, alongside my brothers and friends. I played a lot and had no fear of playing the game even before I started training professionally.

I then went to an academy in Hyderabad for training. That’s where my name was submitted for the state U-19 probables list. That’s how everything fell into place for me.

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Tell us your first impressions of life with the Delhi Capitals in the WPL.

When I first joined the DC camp, I did not have any idea of how things would be. The team gave me a lot of comfort; it was a fantastic group.

I am normally a very calm person. Jemi di used to come and speak with me a lot, she would give me the same amount of comfort that Aru (statemate Arundhati Reddy) akka used to give. That helped me settle down quickly.

Who among the squad ended up becoming your close friends during your time with the franchise?

Aru akka and Jemi di took care of me very well. Whatever was there or whatever I needed, I could ask them very freely. There is no language barrier between Aru akka, so I would ask her if I had any doubts. I was very comfortable with Aru akka and Sneha (Deepthi) akka because we all speak the same language, as well as Jemi di and Lisa (Keightley) ma’am. Even after the WPL final, Jemi di came and told me, “While your analysis may be different, please know that you bowled very well.”

How did the WPL playing experience help and change you, if at all?

As a person, I have not changed much, but as a professional, my routines have changed. Take food consumption, for example. I keep an eye on the amount of protein, fiber, and vitamins I consume.

I have been very inspired after seeing everyone in the WPL, in the DC team, and beyond – their routines, their discipline, and more. I understood why all those players have achieved as much as they have, and the amount of work that went into achieving it.

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Videos of your camaraderie with DC assistant coach Lisa Keightley were quite popular during the league. What has your association with her been like?

Lisa ma’am (DC assistant coach) is very experienced. She was very helpful. I got feedback on what I can do, what to improve in my bowling, and a lot more. She was the reason why I got some structure and clarity in my game. We had Jess (Jonassen) at DC who is a very experienced left-arm spinner and one of the world’s best. What Lisa ma’am used to do was speak with her and also with Meg (Lanning), and ask them ‘What’s going on with Shree? What can she do today to improve?’ and get information. That used to be very helpful to me; it would give me a clear plan on what I could and should be doing.

Lisa ma’am is the reason why my bowling got a lot more clarity. She used to help me a lot, not just in cricket but in all things; she would give me a lot of guidance. She is a very funny person also, and she can handle anything with a smile. She doesn’t take anything to heart, she is a very genuine person.

How was your relationship with your captain Lanning?

My relationship with Meg was good. She also used to guide me a lot. She would tell me how and where to bowl, what kind of fields to set, how to bowl to a particular field, and more. In the match, she would talk to me before every ball and remind me of the plan we discussed.

I learned how to be calm from her, irrespective of the situation. When I was getting smashed for sixes in the WPL final, if Meg wasn’t around, I would have been more nervous. She and the whole team were constantly cheering me on, telling me when I was doing well.

That final was disappointing for the DC faithful. How do you look back at that match?

When I look back, I feel bad about it. I think I could have performed slightly better, maybe. I felt that right after the match and even now, when I think about it.

How did your family and friends react to your WPL stint?

All of my friends and family watched my WPL matches. I got a lot of messages after the two matches I played in WPL. It took me two days to reply to all those messages. Those messages gave me a lot of confidence in my performance during the league.

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There was a lot of praise for your fielding in the WPL. How do you go about working on improving that aspect of your game?

I was a much better fielder, but I am not that good right now. I need to work on that, since I am just making my way back from a few niggles. It will take about six months for me to get back to my old self. It doesn’t matter if I am in the playing 11. I would go and take catches daily, work with Milap (Mewada, the fielding coach at DC). If I wasn’t playing in a match, I would finish bowling and stay with him and then take catches for about 20 minutes, which eventually helped me.

Are you keeping an eye on the Women’s World Cup in India later this year?

Every player will want to take part in the World Cup, that’s obvious. If I have to go there, I need to focus on the present. My dream is to play for India, and if possible, in a World Cup. But I am not going to think about that. I will keep working hard. Whatever has to happen will happen.

KKR players Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh during a practice session ahead of the IPL match against Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on Monday.
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

An hour before Kolkata Knight Riders’ practice session was officially scheduled to begin at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy made their way to the middle and went about their bowling drills on a side pitch for close to an hour. Without a batter at the other end, the two mystery bowlers were directed to hit spots on the good and full lengths, on which orange markers were placed, under the gaze of spin bowling coach Carl Crowe.

It served as a prelude to the instrumental roles they may have to play when KKR faces Delhi Capitals in the IPL on Tuesday. Particularly if the surface plays anything like the one that was used for Sunday’s game between DC and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, KKR will hope for its two main spinners to step up and make it count. So far this season, both have logged decent numbers without having a decisive say.

In nine matches, Varun, who classifies himself as a leg-spinner, has claimed 11 scalps at an economy of 6.85. Narine has taken just seven wickets in eight matches while conceding 7.75 runs per over. KKR, which is languishing with three wins in nine matches, is in desperate need of a morale-booster.

On account of the potential threat posed by Narine and Varun, DC mentor Kevin Pietersen said after the defeat to RCB that his team wouldn’t want a similar pitch.

In Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Vipraj Nigam, the host does have the spinners to trouble the KKR batters. But for the likes of K.L. Rahul, Faf du Plessis, Karun Nair and Tristan Stubbs in DC’s batting unit, a sluggish pitch isn’t conducive to the nature of their strokeplay.