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.

Suryavanshi en route his dazzling hundred.
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy

Not since Sachin Tendulkar smashed Abdul Qadir for four sixes in an over in an exhibition match against Pakistan, way back in 1989, has many teenaged batters caused as much excitement as Vaibhav Suryavanshi did on a manic Monday night here at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

There may never be another Tendulkar, and one innings does not make a great batter, even if that innings happens to be an astonishing 38-ball 101, and the hundred by the youngest ever batter in the IPL, at the age of 14. But Suryavanshi seems a special talent. He has to be nurtured properly.

He is too good for his age, even for someone older. He generates power, has commendable bat-swing and has a knack to get into the right position quickly to play his shots. And he dares to take on the best of the bowlers.

Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour said what the world witnessed during the team’s eight-wicket win against Gujarat Titans was something he and they all had been watching at the nets for the past few months. “We knew what he was capable of and what kind of shots he was capable of playing,” he said. “But to do it in front of this kind of crowd, in a situation like this and against a really, really good bowling attack, it was really special.”

Rathour recalled that everyone was impressed when Suryavanshi came for the trial four months earlier. “All of us knew we found something special,” he said. “Our job was to nurture him and to bring him to this level. A lot of credit to him — he kept his nerve.”

The former India opener said the youngster had a good head on his shoulders. “He showed great temperament,” he said. “Even in his first couple of games, he showed what he was capable of.”