Rajeshwari Gayakwad was only 16 years old when she started playing cricket before which she was engaged in playing gully Cricket. Born in a family full of talent with her brother a tabla player, another one a badminton and volleyball player, her sisters a hockey player and a state-level cricket player, she owes her career to her father who passed away soon after her International debut due to cardiac arrest in 2014.
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NAME |
RAJESHWARI SHIVANAND Gayakwad |
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DATE OF BIRTH |
JUNE 1, 1991 |
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PLACE OF BIRTH |
BIJAPUR, KARNATAKA |
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NAME OF PARENTS |
SHIVANAND Gayakwad – FATHER SAVITHRI Gayakwad – MOTHER |
|
SIBLINGS |
KASHINATH Gayakwad, VISHWANATH Gayakwad – BROTHERS RAMESHWARI Gayakwad, BHUVANESHWARI Gayakwad – SISTERS |
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ODI DEBUT |
JANUARY 19, 2014 Vs Sri Lanka |
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T20 TEBUT |
JANUARY 25, 2014 Vs Sri Lanka |
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TEST DEBUT |
NOVEMBER 16, 2014 Vs South Africa |
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BOWLING |
SLOW LEFT-ARM ORTHODOX |
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BATTING |
RIGHT HAND |
Rajeshwari considers her father to be her inspiration and for a long time had also been the only bread earner of the family after his death. Nobody said it would be easy but it’ll always be worth it, and here she is today!
Gayakwad played for the Karnataka State Team but stunned one and all when she took 5 wickets for 15 runs in the World Cup’17 against New Zealand. It not only became her career-best figures but she also became the first woman to do so! Gayakwad had dedicated her performance to her late father.
The 28-year-old is the first from Bijapur to play for India and is often called the daughter of Bijapur by the locals. Applauded by people, she has also been gifted a Honda Activa by Patil Honda and a car worth Rs 5 Lakh by the city’s MLA.
Owing to her father’s love for the sport, Gayakwad was taken to a training camp by her father in which she’d got selected. This is when her relationship with the 22-yard began. Her sister Rameshwari who has also represented India Green used to train along with her and they’d start to practice even before the coach used to arrive – such was the dedication! Rajeshwari considers her sister, not as a family but also a friend.
Where Rajeshwari sees her father as an inspiration, she considers Ravindra Jadeja as her role model! Multi-talented which she sees, Gayakwad can play volleyball, is good at javelin and discus throws and is also a kho-kho player!
From wearing a second-hand trouser to being asked to change action from pace to spin, no journey is a bed of roses! It was no different for Rajeshwari, however, never giving up, the support of family, friends, and coaches, and of course, her own attitude, intent, and will is what had led her to the position that she is in today.
Rajeshwari has 5-haul wickets and her career-best figures in ODIs and T20s are 5/15 and 3/17 respectively. She averages 3.36 and 6.43 in ODIs and T20s respectively.
A player to look out for, she’s made a difference every time she’s been part of the team! She’s not had it easy but she’s sure made the best of what was available and achieved what she desires!
Perseverance. Passion. Intent. Rajeshwari Gayakwad – A CLASSIC EXAMPLE.