When India’s women lifted the 2025 ICC World Cup trophy, one of the shining faces in the victory celebrations was that of N. Sree Charani—a young spinner from Yerramala Palle in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh whose journey from local cricket nets to the global stage has now inspired thousands back home.
On November 7, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced a grand felicitation for the 21-year-old cricketer, honoring her contributions to India’s title-winning campaign.
In recognition of her performances, the government announced a cash prize of Rs 2.5 crore, a Group-I officer post, and a 1,000 square yard plot house site in Kadapa. The Chief Minister commended Sree Charani for showcasing the strength and spirit of Indian women, calling her a role model for aspiring athletes across the state.
Sree Charani met the Chief Minister and Minister Nara Lokesh in Amaravati, where she presented a team-signed T-shirt as a gesture of gratitude. “It is an emotional moment to bring this joy home,” she said, expressing heartfelt thanks to the Andhra Cricket Association and her family, especially her uncle Kishore Kumar Reddy, who first placed a cricket ball in her hand years ago.
In her debut World Cup, Sree Charani made a lasting mark with the ball. The young left-arm spinner finished with 14 wickets from nine matches, ranking among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. Her best figures of 3 for 41 came against the powerhouse and defending champions Australia in the league games and her breakthroughs often came at critical junctures when India needed momentum.
In the final against South Africa, she turned the match India’s way by trapping Anneke Bosch lbw for a duck in the twelfth over — a dismissal that broke South Africa’s early rhythm. Earlier in the semifinal against Australia, she held her nerve against one of the world’s strongest batting units, claiming two wickets for 49 runs in a disciplined 10-over spell.
Her consistency throughout the campaign placed her among elite company — alongside bowlers like Deepti Sharma, Annabel Sutherland, and Sophie Ecclestone — all pivotal in shaping this World Cup season. Yet, what stood out about Charani’s campaign was her calmness under pressure and her ability to deliver in tough moments despite being one of the youngest in the squad.
Trained under the watchful eye of her uncle at the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station grounds, Sree Charani’s rise has been swift but grounded. After making her international debut in April 2025, she quickly cemented her place in India’s first choice XI by blending control with attacking intent.
Speaking at her felicitation, she called the World Cup triumph “just the beginning” and voiced her confidence in bringing more glory to India. As the celebrations continue back in her hometown, her story has already become one of Andhra Pradesh’s proudest sporting chapters — proof that dreams nurtured in small villages can indeed echo on the world stage.
Loves all things female cricket