At just 18, Pooja Ganesh already carries herself with the composure of a seasoned international cricketer. Representing the United States at the World Cup Qualifier, the wicketkeeper-batter has emerged as one of the brightest young faces in USA women’s cricket, calm under pressure, deeply team-oriented, and driven by a larger purpose than personal milestones.
In an exclusive conversation with Vishal Yadav for Female Cricket, Ganesh opened up about handling high-pressure moments, her journey from playing cricket in her driveway to wearing the USA jersey, and what qualification for a maiden Women’s World Cup would mean not just for her, but for the future of the sport in the country.
Asked about striking boundaries late in the innings against the Netherlands and how she manages to stay composed in crunch situations, Ganesh kept her answer simple. “I just try to look at the gaps and see where my scoring options are and try to play to my strengths,” she said. “I just try to get the team to like a formidable total, because in the end we have like a common goal and that’s to make it to the World Cup and I just think that makes it so much easier when you’re all thinking of a common goal.” She played 7 balls and hit two boundaries and a six, at the strike of 214 to provide a late innings surge.
That clarity of thought has defined her early international career. Ganesh has featured in 16 Women’s T20 Internationals (WT20Is), scoring 187 runs while striking at close to 98, and has been a sharp presence behind the stumps with multiple catches and stumpings. She has also played three One Day Internationals (ODIs), with the highest score of 45, showing early promise as a middle-order batter who thrives in responsibility-heavy roles.
Despite her age, Ganesh speaks with maturity about what it means to take the field as a wicketkeeper for her country. “I just want to make sure our energy on the field, and I can do the best possible for my country,” she said.
“Because playing for the USA is just the best thing ever and I just love getting on the field every time and I just want to make the opposition feel that the USA is here to play and we are not the underdogs, we’re coming to win.”
Her journey into cricket began in the most organic way, playing casually at home with her father. From there, her path unfolded steadily through structured development in the USA system. “I started playing cricket and then one day my mom took me to American Cricket Academy and Club and Coach Ajay was my childhood coach,” Ganesh recalled. “Then, I just kept playing youth cricket and then USA came out with the pathway, and I started playing intros, regionals, and then I moved my way up to the Under-19s and then from the Under-19s I eventually made it to the women’s squad.”
Family support has been a constant pillar throughout that journey. “My family has been so supportive. My dad comes with me and he’s so supportive and my mom also is also very supportive,” she said, underscoring how vital that backing has been.
Coming from Missouri, representing the USA on a global stage still feels surreal to her.
“I remember as a child watching the Olympics and seeing all these USA Olympians making our country proud and to think I’m doing that is so crazy to think about,” Ganesh said. “I just hope I’m making my country proud to the best of my ability.”
That sense of responsibility extends to the next generation as well. Ganesh revealed that young girls from her hometown often reach out, and she embraces the role of being someone they can look up to. “I just try to be the best example that I can be for them, and I hope that I’m making them proud too,” she said. “The young girls at home, they’re the next generation and that’s what’s really going to take the USA forward to us being like a formidable nation competing against the best of the best.”
Ganesh was also part of the USA squad at the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa, an experience that played a formative role in her development despite her limited time on the field. At just 15 years old, being part of a global tournament environment exposed her to professional standards, preparation, and mindset at the highest level. Observing from the sidelines allowed her to absorb valuable lessons about international cricket, fueling her motivation to improve and strengthening her determination to help the USA progress further in future tournaments.
Transitioning to the senior side, she credits the presence of experienced players for helping her settle in. “One of the biggest differences, we have older, more experienced players, so I kind of just follow their lead and do whatever the team asks of me,” Ganesh explained. “I just think there’s so much more experience on the senior squad that I can learn from.”
A keen follower of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ganesh credits the league, and particularly Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for shaping her love for the game and her understanding of finishing under pressure. While she grew up admiring MS Dhoni’s calmness at the crease and the influence of CSK stalwarts, her loyalties in the women’s game lie elsewhere.
“Well, I root for Mumbai Indians because my mom’s from Mumbai… I root for them in the women’s circuit, and I love Harmanpreet Kaur and company, and I just love that they’re pretty dominant also, so it’s nice to have a winning team,” she said.
Speaking about the Women’s Premier League (WPL), she was clear about how much it means to her and players from similar backgrounds. “Yeah, of course. I’ve always dreamed of playing franchise cricket,” she said. Reflecting on what such opportunities could mean beyond just herself, Ganesh added, “It’ll be great for associate nations to start playing in the WPL and yeah, hopefully opportunities can come like that.”
When asked what qualification for the Women’s T20 World Cup would mean to her personally, Ganesh returned once again to the idea of collective purpose. “I love playing for a common goal,” she said.
“If we qualify for the World Cup it would be a dream come true because we have never made it to the Women’s World Cup and I just can’t wait to play with all the bigger nations and show that USA’s coming up and we are a threat to come.”
Her personal goal for the year reflects that same selflessness. “My personal goal is to play in the World Cup,” she said. “I just want to help the USA as much as possible wherever they want to use me. I’ll be there.”
For Ganesh, the journey is still very much in motion. Every innings, every setback, and every learning experience continues to shape a player who is growing alongside the ambitions of USA women’s cricket. While results may not always go her way, Ganesh’s outlook remains firmly fixed on progress, personal and collective—making her one of the most compelling young faces in a team determined to announce itself on the global stage.
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