Cricket has always grown with the greats. There have been legends who have taken the game to the people. Women’s cricket is growing at an unprecedented pace. The success of events and the reach among the masses is inspiring for all the loyal fans throughout the globe. Amidst a saddening surrounding caused by the global pandemic, fans are enjoying instances of watching their players off the field.
Female Cricket has stepped up to get the women cricketers to their fans and spectators who are locked in their homes. With much of known Indian players being interviewed by the team, the consistency of clips for fans is delightful. In one of the recent additions to the tally, Rajeshwari Gayakwad was the latest player to share her off-the-field version fans on the Internet.
She touches all aspects that are lesser-known about her. From her starting days to her cricketing rise, Rajeshwari has opened up in a manner not seen on camera before. While talking off her debut she gets reminded of the phenomenal start where she had two wickets under her name. Vishal Yadav, host of the show ‘Cricket With Queens’ then takes her to the next big event in her life post debut. It was the ICC Cricket World Cup. It was 2017. She was not part of the team for a while. After being rested for a while, she was given a call all of a sudden. Interestingly, this was against New Zealand which was crucial from the team’s scheme of things.
Rajeshwari recalls sitting on the bench for six matches. She was, however, happy for the team as they were eventually winning matches. She knew of her inclusion into the side the very same morning of the match. She wanted to give her best with the ball in the must-win knockout game for the side. Her efforts were not so humble as her words are. She was ruthless against the White Ferns. She got five wickets for 15 runs and completed her 50 wickets for India in the same match. India qualified into the semis and made their way to the big finals at Lord’s. The finals at Lord’s was a dream for her and that too in front of packed stands.
The World Cup campaign was a team effort for the side which ended without a cup but with lots of memories and glories. She says that the team got a warm reception at Mumbai and at her hometown Bijapur. She boarded an open roof vehicle and was further invited into the regional league in Bijapur. Behind these scenes and tales of success and shine, there are chapters of struggle that often go unnoticed. Her dad suffered a cardiac arrest in 2014 when they were watching an IPL game. Her dad left the game in between and was admitted to the hospital. His health deteriorated suddenly and he left the world. This was shocking for her daughters to lose a healthy father.
He couldn’t see her daughter Rajeshwari traveling England with the side. Her performances went ahead with her father’s hand from the heavens. From the world cup, she noticed that the number of girls for trials had increased exponentially. It was later revealed that new girls had got the inspiration from the likes of players like Rajeshwari.
Cricket has changed in many aspects. Cricket has gone to new places and hearts. Not many people know that Rajeshwari plays for state team Railways too. To support her family after her dad, she joined Railways and got selected in the Railways team in 2015. A lot of her cricketing ability has roots in railways. Her surroundings had discipline with likes of big players but she got financial stability long after her struggle started. She lived in her rented apartment and in fact, saw news flash that she had asked the state government to replace a car with a house as a gift. This came as fake news. In the current cricketing team, she likes Ravindra Jadeja and Ekta Bisht, who are both left-handers.
She likes watching movies and has an enjoyable profile off-the-field. With blessings of her dad and the fruits of her labors, she is one of the pillars of the Indian scheme of things for the future.
To watch Full Episode:
Part 1: Click here
Part 2: Click here
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