Mithila Vinod, the talented Indian all-rounder, etched her name in history as a key member of the Indian U-19 Women’s Cricket Team that clinched the World Cup title against South Africa in Kuala Lumpur. This win marked a new chapter in her budding cricketing career.
In an interaction with India Today, she reflected on her journey after being overlooked in 2023, admitting, “From the moment I didn’t get picked then, it was a dream for me to picture myself here in this edition, lifting the trophy.”
Recalling her early cricketing aspirations, Mithila credited her father’s influence for sparking her interest in the sport. Watching him play in corporate and office matches, she found herself drawn to cricket and gradually developed a passion for it.
She began playing at the age of 11 and, as she observed women cricketers making a career out of the sport, she realized she wanted to follow the same path. Her journey started at the state level, where she took her game seriously and set her sights on representing India.
When asked about players she admires for power-hitting, Mithila pointed to Hardik Pandya as a source of inspiration. “I find my playing style very similar to Hardik Pandya. If you see, he’s also a middle-order batter, a hard hitter of the ball with a high strike rate. I enjoy batting at that pace as well.”
However, she named Ellyse Perry as her childhood idol, saying “I have looked up a lot to Ellyse Perry since I started playing because she is someone you can rely on with both the ball and the bat. That’s the kind of player I want to be.”
Discussing her aspirations for the Women’s Premier League, Mithila expressed a strong admiration for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. While she would be happy to play for any team, she has been an RCB supporter since she began watching the IPL.
Reflecting on her long-standing partnership with Niki Prasad, who captained the U-19 World Cup-winning side, Mithila shared that one of the most cherished aspects of her cricketing journey is their relationship.
“Niki and I have been playing together for a very long time. Since the time I started, she has been there, and she’s actually my best friend. Playing with her is really enjoyable for me, and the bond we share is great, more than friends, it’s a family feeling.”
Mithila Vinod will be eager to translate her dreams into action and take the next step towards representing the senior national team.
(Quotes sourced from India Today)
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