As India gears up to host the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 from 30th September to 2nd November, two of its players, pace-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy and left-arm spinner Nallapureddy Shree Charani, shared moving glimpses of their cricketing journeys in the latest episode of “Off the Pitch” with Jiostar.
With the marquee event returning to India for the first time in 12 years, and Harmanpreet Kaur leading the hosts into her maiden World Cup campaign as skipper, both Reddy and Charani opened up about resilience, family support, and the dreams that shaped their pathways to the Indian side.
Arundhati Reddy: From Reluctant Bowler to World Cup Dream
At 28, Arundhati Reddy’s journey has been one of persistence and rediscovery. She made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka in 2018, and though she spent close to three years away from the national setup, her comeback in 2024, powered by a strong Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign for the Delhi Capitals and a move to Kerala in domestic cricket, reignited her World Cup ambitions.
In T20Is, she has claimed 34 wickets in 38 matches at an average of 27.85, while in ODIs, she has 15 wickets in 11 matches since her debut in 2024, including a standout four-wicket haul against Australia in Perth.
Interestingly, her story as a fast bowler was not planned. Reddy recalled her first day at Coach Ganesh’s academy when he made her try bowling instead of her preferred role behind the stumps. “I never wanted to be a fast bowler. I always wanted to be a wicketkeeper. On my first day at Ganesh Sir’s academy, he asked me to bowl, and it all came naturally,” she reflected.
She admitted she had once questioned her future in the game, but the return to the India jersey brought back a wave of gratitude and pride. “There was a time in my career when I felt like I might never wear the India jersey again, and there were many questions about my future. But when I made my comeback and wore the jersey again, it felt really special,” Reddy shared.
Sree Charani: Family Faith and a Spinner’s Rise
If Reddy’s story is one of reinvention, Sree Charani’s cricketing journey is about early struggles, patience, and family belief. At just 21, the left-arm spinner from Andhra Pradesh has already made her mark, debuting in ODIs earlier this year against Sri Lanka before stepping into T20Is with immediate impact. In her debut series against England in June 2025, she picked up 10 wickets in five matches at an average of 14.80, including a career-defining debut spell of 3.5-0-12-4 at Nottingham. Her performances earned her the Player of the Series award and helped India secure their first T20I series win on English soil.
Charani credited her mother and uncle for standing by her choice to pursue cricket when others in her family needed time to accept it. Recalling an anecdote from her childhood, she said with a smile, “Once, when we went to a gold shop in Kadapa, the cashier asked about the kit bag I was carrying. My mom replied, ‘She plays cricket, and one day she will play for India.’ She was the first person who believed in me.”
But the path was not easy. Having initially tried badminton, athletics, and even kho-kho, she transitioned to cricket seriously only after convincing her father in class 10. COVID-19 further delayed her progress. Her switch from medium pace to spin eventually proved decisive. “That’s when I decided to become a spinner. Once I started bowling spin, I began picking wickets consistently because batters struggled against my deliveries. That’s how my journey as a spinner began,” Charani revealed.
She expressed gratitude and her ambitions to give her best and help in contributing to her side’s success in the upcoming edition of the World Cup at home, as and when the opportunity presents itself for the youngster.
Both Arundhati Reddy and Shree Charani now find themselves on the cusp of something historic. India, despite twice finishing as runners-up in 2005 and 2017, are still chasing their first Women’s ODI World Cup title. With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the side into her fifth World Cup campaign, but her first as skipper, the spotlight on players like Reddy and Charani is immense.
India comes into the tournament off a tough ODI series defeat against Australia in Delhi earlier this month, but the energy within the squad remains high, fueled by both seasoned campaigners and promising youngsters. As India takes on Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on September 30 at 3 PM IST, the personal journeys of Reddy and Charani stand as reflections of grit, resilience, and the shared dream of lifting the trophy at home.
(Quotes sourced from JioStar show Off The Pitch)
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