RAJESHWARI GAYAKWAD ( CRICKETER) WIKI, AGE, HEIGHT, GIRLFRIEND, FAMILY, BIOGRAPHY & MORE

Owing to her father’s love for the sport, Gayakwad was taken to a training camp by her father 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 arrive – such was the dedication! Rajeshwari considers her sister, not as a family but also a friend.

Reticent but confident, talented, and hardworking, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is the uncrowned queen of the Indian women’s cricket team. She doesn’t need any titles; her achievements speak for themselves. Her life has had its share of ups and downs. From huge personal loss to tremendous professional success, Rajeshwari has experienced it all. But she emerged from every situation like a gem. Today, we glimpse into the life story of this talented cricketer.

In January 2014, Rajeshwari Gayakwad made her international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka. In the very same tournament, she made her T20 debut as well. She has played just one test match, against South Africa in November 2014.

Talent runs in Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s blood. Every member of her family is exceptionally talented. She has two brothers- Kashinath and Vishwanath- both sportspersons. One plays badminton, while the other is a volleyball player. Her sisters, Rameshwari and Bhuvaneshwari, are hockey players and state-level cricketers respectively.

Her father, Late Shivanand Gayakwad, father pushed her to pursue cricket. She was 18 years old when she first started playing. Initially, Rajeshwari used to play javelin and discuss throw. Once she found success in cricket, there was no turning back.

Gayakwad’s debut came in January 2014. It was an ODI match against Sri Lanka at Visakhapatnam. In 7.3 overs, Gayakwad conceded just 11 runs and also took 2 wickets. Her spell also included 3 maidens. Tripoli Weerakkody and Chandima Gunaratne were the batters who lost their wickets to Gayakwad.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad was born on June 1, 1991, in Vijayapura, India. She is a proud daughter of Shivanand Gayakwad and Savithri Gayakwad. Her siblings are Rameshwari Gayakwad, Bhuvaneshwari Gayakwad, Kashinath Gayakwad, and Vishwanath Gayakwad.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad was born into a middle-class family. She belonged to a Marathi caste. Her father late Shivanand Gayakwad was a school teacher, and her mother Savithri Gayakwad is a homemaker. She has 2 brothers – Kashinath Gayakwad (Tabla player), Vishwanath Gayakwad (Badminton & Volleyball player), and 2 sisters – Rameshwari Gayakwad (Hockey player), Bhuvaneshwari Gayakwad (state level cricket player).

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is a magnificent and noticeable cricketer of the esteemed, and prominent Indian Cricket team proved herself to be a great sports player who possesses not only sportsmanship quality but also leadership qualities. She is an Indian cricketer by profession. She was born on 1 June 1991 in Bijapur which is officially known as Vijaypura located in Karnataka in India. She plays the role of a bowler in the Indian cricket team. Her bat with her right hand and his bowling style is slow arm left orthodox.

She is the first-ever women player from Bijapur who got selected for the Indian women’s cricket team. She did not want to become a cricketer during his childhood but his father always wanted to see his daughter in the Indian jersey. She was not sure about the scope of cricket for women in India therefore she completed her graduation after her secondary education. She also represents the Karnataka women’s cricket team in state championships. She played her debut match for the Women’s One Day Internationals on 19 January 2014, and the match was played against Sri Lanka at Vishakhapatnam.

She has played a total of 40 matches for the ODI and has taken 67 wickets in those matches. She played her debut match for the Women’s T20 Internationals on 25 January 2014 and the match was played against Sri Lanka at Vizianagaram. She has played only a single Test match for the country in her cricket career. She gave an impressive match-winning performance in the 2017 ICC Women World Cup as she took a five-wicket haul against New Zealand. Her jersey number on the Indian cricket team is 1.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad is an Indian cricketer part of the women’s team. She debuted in international cricket in the year 2014. She got the inspiration to play cricket from her father. She got much-needed recognition after the ICC women's world cup in the year 2017. She will be part of a team in the world cup slated to be held in 2022. It was her hard work and passion for cricket that brought her a chance to play for the country. Below are a few motivational quotes related to her that will motivate you to work hard. They are some of the best motivating quotes we have collected for you.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s family is the perfect family a sportsperson needs. Everyone in her family has excelled in one sport or the other, and there have been no restrictions on her cricket whatsoever. Rajeshwari has two brothers and two sisters.

Her brothers, Kashinath and Vishwanath have been active in sports since childhood. While one took interest in volleyball, the other decided to make a career in badminton. The situation is similar among her sisters as well. While Rameshwari Gayakwad is a hockey player, Bhuvaneshwari Gayakwad has represented her state in cricket.

Hence, her family has got the entire spectrum of sports covered. But cricket was not what Rajeshwari wanted to play when she was a child. Though always interested in sports, she was more inclined to javelin throw and discus throw. Unlike in many other stories where we would see fathers being strict and not allowing their daughters the play, Gayakwad’s story was different. Late Shivanand Gayakwad, who worked as a teacher, always wanted her daughter to excel in sports. In particular, he nurtured a dream to watch her daughter play for the national team. Hence, it was he who pushed Rajeshwari into cricket, keeping javelin throw and discus throw in the backseat.

She started playing cricket seriously only when she was 18. Prior to that, javelin and discus used to give her company. However, her talent soon earned her a call-up in the Karnataka Women’s side. Since then, there has not been any looking back for her since. However, Gayakwad still did not want to entirely give up on her academics.

Hence, from the small state of Bijapur, she moved to Bengaluru after completing her school-level education. She pursued a bachelor's degree in arts, as she was still not sure that cricket is a viable career option for women in India. But all of his, her father stood beside him like a pillar.

That pillar fell off in a terribly unfortunate incident in 2014. Gayakwad got selected for the Indian team in January 2014. It had only been a few months of her in an Indian kit, and the Late Shivanand Gayakwad was living her dream of watching her daughter play for India. Alongside her daughter, he was watching a game of the Indian Premier League in 2014. It was in the stadium that he had a massive heart attack. Gayakwad lost his father just a few months after her debut, and to date, she wishes he would have been alive to enjoy all the success she has got over the years.

Her T20I debut came about a  week later, against the same opposition at Vizianagaram. In this game, she conceded just 24 runs in 4 overs and also took 3 wickets. Yasoda Mendis, Oshadi Ranasinghe, and the Sri Lankan skipper Shasikala Siriwardene were the batters Gayakwad got the better of. Her Test debut came in November of the same year, against South Africa at Tamil Nadu. In her very first Test match, Gayakwad took 5 wickets. Centurian Mignon du Preez was the most notable of these 5. She got the better of Marizanne Kapp in both the innings

One of the most prominent figures on the Indian women’s team, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is both confident and compassionate about her game. She is a slow left-arm orthodox bowler who has been a go-to for her captain, when in need of big breakthroughs at crucial times in a match.

Rajeshwari started playing professional cricket at the age of 18 when she was picked in the Karnatka Women’s squad. After proving herself in the domestic circuit, the Bijapur-born got a big leap in 2014 when she was picked in the national squad.

She made her international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka on January 19th, 2014, and bowled a fine spell on her debut picking up 2 wickets for 11 runs in her 8 overs which saw the visiting side bowled out for just 76 runs.  Later in the very same tournament, she made her T20 debut as well.

Rajeshwari was part of the women’s team that reached the finals of the 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup. Though the team lost in the finals, her brilliant spell of 5/15 helped the team win against New Zealand in the group stage.

She also represented the Indian Women’s team in the 2020 ICC T20 World Cup held in Australia. She scalped 7 wickets in 6 games and bowled under an economy of 6 to lead the Women in Blue to the finals where they lost against the mighty Aussies. In the recently concluded South Africa tour of India, she won the player of the match award for her brilliant spell which dismantled the Proteas top-order. In her 4 overs quota, Rajeshwari picked 3 wickets for 9 runs and restricted the visitors to just 112 in a landslide victory. Although India lost both the ODI and T20 series, Rajeshwari Gayakwad troubled the South African batters throughout the series.

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It might still be early stages in the World Cup and the leading run-scorer, and wicket-taker tags are likely to change almost every other day. But three matches into the tournament, Indian left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has already made her mark. With seven scalps so far, she is third in the bowling charts, and the only spinner to be in the top four with pacers on either side. But, if you had asked her whether she foresaw this almost a year ago, the answer might not be a straightforward one.

Having been among the top wicket-takers in the home series against South Africa — which India lost 1-4 — in March 2021, Rajeshwari was at her prime to do well on India’s return to the longest format after seven years during the England tour. Unfortunately, getting infected with Covid-19 followed by a knee injury meant that the left-arm spinner from Bijapur was out of action for a while. Ekta Bisht, another left-arm spinner she had to compete with in the past, took her place on the team.

Rajeshwari was hurting as she missed an opportunity to play a Test match for India. “The injury was a huge disappointment as she was very excited for the tour, especially for the Test match,” recalls her sister Rameshwari Gayakwad, who plays for Karnataka.

“It was during the peak second wave of Covid and hence she could not get physical treatment and recovery and a lot of it had to be online. Especially with physio, it is generally better if you go and meet them in person as there will be clarity as to how to go about the rehab. It was a big blow as she was worried about getting fit in time for the next tour,” she added.

But, Rajeshwari did not give up. She persisted, spent time in the National Cricket Academy once the cases came down, and by the time the squad was announced for the Australia tour, she was back in the mix. However, comebacks aren’t easy. “It wasn’t just about coming back. It was also about performing at the highest level and coming out on top. She was under a lot of pressure,” said Rameshwari.

Rajeshwari went wicketless both in the ODIs and the pink-ball Test despite the long miserly spells. As the tour progressed, she got better and finished the T20Is with five wickets in two innings. The next stop was New Zealand for the World Cup. And unlike the 2017 edition, this time, there weren't enough spots for two left-arm spinners in the 15-member squad. 

It was supposed to be either Rajeshwari or Bisht — a constant tussle in Indian cricket in the last five years or so. Bisht started the 2017 World Cup but was dropped midway through the tournament for Rajeshwari, who made an impact with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand, which was her first match in the World Cup. She just took two scalps in the semi-final and final as India lost the World Cup by nine runs.

In the next three years, Bisht featured in 15 of the 24 ODIs India played while Rajeshwari had just 10 opportunities. Although both of them have excellent records, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that Rajeshwari has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years to become the first-choice spinner for India. 

And it comes as no surprise for former India captain Mamatha Maben. “I’ve seen her since her early days and she has been through a lot of hardships. There was competition as well, but it’s her hard work and clarity of mind that stands out. If you look at the last couple of years, she has become much sharper with her pace variations, flight and it’s helping her. Her game awareness and understanding are as good as it can get,” said Maben, who’s currently coaching the Karnataka senior team.

When the World Cup squad was announced, Rajeshwari, who plays for Railways in domestic cricket, was the first-choice spinner in the squad, with Bisht in the stand-bys. Rameshwari recalls the conversation she had with her sister before leaving for New Zealand. “She was delighted about the selection and was very determined to do well. Especially, having been through the agony of losing in 2017 final, this time she is keen on going full-length and winning it for the country this time.”And if her performances so far in the tournament are anything to go by, Rajeshwari is doing everything in her power to take India to glory.

 India defeated West Indies by 155 runs in a remarkable bowling performance to register their second win of the tournament. Spinner Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad tighten the screws in the middle overs while pacer Jhulan Goswami and Meghna Singh also found their footing. Chasing 318 to win, opener Deandra Dottin scored a brilliant fifty while Hayley Matthews also supported her well as West Indies got off to a positive start before the former was dismissed soon for 62 runs.

Meghna Singh then dismissed Kycia Knight for five runs to help India get the second wicket. Opener Smriti Mandhana (123 runs off 119 balls) and Harmanpreet Kaur (109 runs off 107 balls) scored splendid hundreds and bailed India out of trouble with a superb fourth-wicket partnership as India posted 317/8 in 50 overs. Batting first, India lost three quick wickets against Stafanie Taylor-led West Indies in Match 10 of the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, on Saturday. Mithali went in with the same team, which means youngster Shefali Verma warmed the bench again. 

India began their build-up to the women’s Cricket World Cup on a winning note as the Mithali Raj-led side defeated South Africa by two runs in their first warm-up match at the Rangiora Oval on Sunday.

Inserted into batting first, India was dealt with an early blow as batting stalwart Smriti Mandhana took a vicious blow on the head when she was struck by a bouncer from pacer Shabnim Ismail. A team doctor assessed the 25-year-old Mandhana following the incident and originally declared her fit to continue only to retire hurt an over-and-a-half later after another consultation.

At the time Mandhana retired hurt, the left-hander was unbeaten on 12 from 23 deliveries. But the blow did not affect India’s charge in the warm-up game as Harmanpreet Kaur scored a century (103 off 114 deliveries) and top-order batter Yastika Bhatia scored a patient 78-ball 58 to guide the team to 244/9 in their allotted 50 overs. Mastika was measured in her start, moving into her innings with four boundaries and a six to score an important fifty. Mithali Raj was run out for a duck after a mix-up with Yastika.

Mumbai is the stronghold of cricket in India. Mumbai has given more than one cricketer to play for India. These players have defeated the opposition team by going all over the world. But, a player born in this Mumbai became a problem for the Indian team. Ejaz Patel, playing for New Zealand, brought the pride of the Indian batsmen to the same ground where he was born.

Apart from Mayank Agarwal, no Indian batsman could understand the spin of Ejaz Patel. Ejaz took all 10 wickets for India. Ejaz has become the first foreign bowler to do so in India.

A cricketer whose craft is built on putting a tight lid on the scoring, often single-handedly controlling the flow of runs from an end, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is a busy player, not a goofy one who knows little about selecting the right Insta hashtags as her intent is on filtering out the unnecessary from the game; no mean words, no needless stares to the opponent either.

Perhaps credit must also be directed- but often isn’t- at just how quickly and swiftly she goes about finishing her overs, never bothering her captain with the plight of bowling an over slowly. One saw a fine example of that in the fifth and final ODI the Proteas won, creating history on Indian soil for the very first time.

Yet, little is said in appreciation of a bowler who always puts the team ahead of her own goals. And very rarely do we see plaudits being lavished toward a bowler who once politely refused a car being presented as a token of respect by the state government, insisting on the need to own a house as being her top priority.

To a country that, to this day, mocks women, despite proudly glorifying India’s image as being that of a ‘Mother,’ conveniently celebrating the birth of a boy, the arrival of a daughter not so much, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is an inspiration being a woman, and more importantly, the sole breadwinner of her house.

The biggest wicket for India would be the second incoming, with Devine playing against the turn as Deepti Sharma gathered a blinder inside the ring. Not the best effort to clear the in-field. Next, a flighted but straighter one breached the defenses of the dangerous Hannah Rowe. And finally, Tahuhu and Kasperek would last for just nine deliveries among them as Rajeshwari Gayakwad would spin a web of deceit and exasperation spinning India forwards in a tournament where they endeared themselves to millions.

The full name of this Indian Women Cricketer (Bowler) is Rajeshwari Gayakwad. People and her relatives often call him Rajes. her nationality is Indian by birth. The name of her hometown is Bijapur, Vijayapura Karnataka, India. She is a follower of Hinduism. Her educational qualification is B. a. Let's scroll the below table.

Do you have an interest in the Rajeshwari Gayakwad Age? Birthday and information like Birthplace, home town, etc have been focused here. Check the following table, you will be able to know the birth-related information. The birth date is 1 June 1991. Now She is 31 years old. The location of her birth is Bijapur, Vijayapura Karnataka, India.

What do you think about the marital status of Rajeshwari Gayakwad? If you have a curiosity about your personal life, you will get data here. Marital status, affairs, hobbies, and other information has been added here. We have also added the favorite personalities and things in the section. Check the below to the table to know about your favorite person’s marital life.

Here are the educational qualifications of Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Most people want to know about their favorite person’s educational qualifications. Some of the fans love to follow their favorite celebrity and get inspired by their activities and education. Educational qualifications have been described here. We always depend on a reliable source, but it is tough to find. In that case, we keep it blanks.

What is the net worth of Rajeshwari Gayakwad? What about her income? It is mentionable that net worth and salary change over time. In the below table, you will get the latest info about salary and assets. We have added controversies in this section. Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s net worth is 100 Crores (INR).

It might still be early stages in the World Cup and the leading run-scorer, and wicket-taker tags are likely to change almost every other day. But three matches into the tournament, Indian left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad has already made her mark. With seven scalps so far, she is third in the bowling charts, and the only spinner to be in the top four with pacers on either side. But, if you had asked her whether she foresaw this almost a year ago, the answer might not be a straightforward one.

Having been among the top wicket-takers in the home series against South Africa which India lost 1-4 in March 2021, Rajeshwari was at her prime to do well on India’s return to the longest format after seven years during the England tour. Unfortunately, getting infected with Covid-19 followed by a knee injury meant that the left-arm spinner from Bijapur was out of action for a while. Ekta Bisht, another left-arm spinner she had to compete with in the past, took her place on the team.

Rajeshwari was hurting as she missed an opportunity to play a Test match for India. “The injury was a huge disappointment as she was very excited for the tour, especially for the Test match,” recalls her sister Rameshwari Gayakwad, who plays for Karnataka.

“It was during the peak second wave of Covid and hence she could not get physical treatment and recovery and a lot of it had to be online. Especially with physio, it is generally better if you go and meet them in person as there will be clarity as to how to go about the rehab. It was a big blow as she was worried about getting fit in time for the next tour,” she added.

But, Rajeshwari did not give up. She persisted, spent time in the National Cricket Academy once the cases came down, and by the time the squad was announced for the Australia tour, she was back in the mix. However, comebacks aren’t easy. “It wasn’t just about coming back. It was also about performing at the highest level and coming out on top. She was under a lot of pressure,” said Rameshwari.

Rajeshwari went wicketless both in the ODIs and the pink-ball Test despite the long miserly spells. As the tour progressed, she got better and finished the T20Is with five wickets in two innings. The next stop was New Zealand for the World Cup. And unlike the 2017 edition, this time, there weren't enough spots for two left-arm spinners in the 15-member squad. 

It was supposed to be either Rajeshwari or Bisht a constant tussle in Indian cricket in the last five years or so. Bisht started the 2017 World Cup but was dropped midway through the tournament for Rajeshwari, who made an impact with a five-wicket haul against New Zealand, which was her first match in the World Cup. She just took two scalps in the semi-final and final as India lost the World Cup by nine runs.

In the next three years, Bisht featured in 15 of the 24 ODIs India played while Rajeshwari had just 10 opportunities. Although both of them have excellent records, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that Rajeshwari has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years to become the first-choice spinner for India.

And it comes as no surprise for former India captain Mamatha Maben. “I’ve seen her since her early days and she has been through a lot of hardships. There was competition as well, but it’s her hard work and clarity of mind that stands out. If you look at the last couple of years, she has become much sharper with her pace variations, flight and it’s helping her. Her game awareness and understanding are as good as it can get,” said Maben, who’s currently coaching the Karnataka senior team.

When the World Cup squad was announced, Rajeshwari, who plays for Railways in domestic cricket, was the first-choice spinner in the squad, with Bisht in the stand-bys. Rameshwari recalls the conversation she had with her sister before leaving for New Zealand. “She was delighted about the selection and was very determined to do well. Especially, having been through the agony of losing in 2017 final, this time she is keen on going full-length and winning it for the country this time.”

Reticent but confident, talented, and hardworking, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is the uncrowned queen of the Indian women’s cricket team. She doesn’t need any titles; her achievements speak for themselves. Her life has had its share of ups and downs. From huge personal loss to tremendous professional success, Rajeshwari has experienced it all. But she emerged from every situation like a gem. Today, we glimpse into the life story of this talented cricketer.

Coming from the historical town of Bijapur which is known for its architectural brilliance, Rajeshwari Gayakwad is now designing the layout of her own career in international cricket.

"Yes, I come from a historical place known for its architecture but probably now people know that an India cricketer lives there," the reticent but confident Rajeshwari Gayakwad said with a glint in her eyes.

The Indian team was back after its much-followed World Cup campaign, and the girls were being feted by the BCCI in the national capital a few days back. There was an unprecedented media frenzy to get the same mundane sound bytes from the likes of Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur. They kept their counsel as there were too many queries. All the other players were enjoying their moment under the sun. In a quiet corner stood Rajeshwari, clad in a navy blue India blazer. There was the white envelope in her hand that had a cheque of Rs 50 lakh -- she had just hit the paydirt -- a feeling that, perhaps, is yet to sink in.

Some media people walked up to her and requested interviews. Initially reluctant, she obliged eventually."It feels really nice. I could have never imagined that this is the kind of response we will be getting from everyone -- cricket lovers, media, and everyone around. Only if my father would have been there to see all this. I don't think anyone would have been more proud than him," she said, the soft-spoken cricketer's answers barely audible. Life has not exactly been a bed of roses despite its regal name. Just after she made her India debut, she lost her father Shivanand -- her biggest inspiration."I still miss him every day."

The tinge of sadness in Rajeshwari's voice was unmistakable as she spoke about her late father."My father passed away in 2014, just after my India debut. I came back after playing my debut international series (T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka) and he passed away. Even when I step onto the field, I feel, he is watching me from somewhere," said Rajeshwari. Unlike Mithali or a Harmanpreet, Rajeshwari started playing serious cricket in her late teens -- in 2008 – when she was around 18 years.

"My father aspired to play serious cricket but never got a chance to express himself. When he realized I had talent, he wanted that I get formal coaching. Initially, I was bowling left-arm medium pace but it was my coach who told me to try left-arm orthodox spin. Within two months of formal coaching, I was playing for the Karnataka state team," said the Western Railways employee. Rajeshwari was one of the architects of India's crushing win over New Zealand in the final round-robin league match, with a brilliant spell of 5/15.

"The key to success in limited-overs cricket is consistency. My forte is bowling wicket-to-wicket. I believe in stifling the batsmen for runs. Obviously, as a bowler, you need to have variations. I am working on flighted deliveries, drift. The more I play, the better I will get," said the 26-year-old, who has 54 wickets from 30 ODIs.

So has she planned her investments"Yes, the first priority is to buy a house for my family? In Bijapur, she is slowly gaining popularity."My mother tells me that earlier, people knew that there is this girl, who plays for India but they now know Rajeshwari is from Bijapur. There is a connect -- our girl has played World Cup final," Rajeshwari, the uncrowned 'Princess' of Bijapur, said.

Women’s cricket across the globe continues to keep better and better. The past decade has seen a significant increase in the rise of women’s cricket. With cricket now being played in the remotest corners of the world, it is quickly becoming a source of women's empowerment. Over the years, we have seen several talented women cricketers emerge onto the big stage. Some even went head-to-head with their male counterparts. India has been contributing greatly to producing quality women cricketers. These include the likes of Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jhulan Goswami, and many more. Yet another promising talent is Rajeshwari Gayakwad. She was a key part of the Indian team which made it to the finals of the 2k17 Women’s World Cup, registering handy contributions throughout the course of the tournament.

Rajeshwari is a left-arm spinner who made her debut in international cricket in an ODI against Sri Lanka in early 2014. She made her T20I debut in the same series as well, returning figures of 3-24 in a losing cause. She was a key part of the Indian team which made it to the finals of the 2017 Women’s World Cup, registering handy contributions throughout the course of the tournament. Rajeshwari has also played for the Trailblazers in the Women’s IPL in 2019.

Rajeshwari Gayakwad was only 16 years old when she started playing cricket before which she was engaged in playing gully Cricket. Born into a family full of talent with her brother a tabla player, another one a badminton and volleyball player, her sister 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.

However, Rajeshwari had zero interest in playing cricket growing up. Rajeshwari was an accomplished javelin thrower and had no interest in cricket. However, her father always wanted to see his daughter in the Indian jersey and persuaded her into the game. Although his dream did come true in the year 2k14, he couldn’t survive a heart attack while watching an IPL game.

In a place, which is defined by the backwardness and poverty of a large section of the population, sport is the last thing on people’s minds. And even if someone shows some interest, it’s quickly discouraged by parents for whom securing the future is more imp...

In what was a must-win game for India, it was skipper Mithali Raj's fantastic century that laid the foundation for the victory before World Cup debutant Rajeshwari Gayakwad ripped through the New Zealand batting, picking up five wickets whilst conceding just 15 runs.

New Zealand was bowled out for just 79 runs in reply to India’s total of 265 and the Mithali Raj-led side will now battle it out with the likes of England, Australia, and South Africa for the coveted prize.

"It feels really nice. I could have never imagined that this is the kind of response we will be getting from everyone - cricket lovers, media, and everyone around. Only if my father would have been there to see all this. I don't think anyone would have been more proud than him," she said, the soft-spoken cricketer's answers barely audible.

"My father aspired to play serious cricket but never got a chance to express himself. When he realized I had talent, he wanted that I get formal coaching. Initially, I was bowling left-arm medium pace but it was my coach who told me to try left-arm orthodox spin. Within two months of formal coaching, I was playing for the Karnataka state team," said the Western Railways employee.

Rajeshwari was born on 1^st June 1991 in Karnataka, India. She was brought up in a sports-driven family where each of her siblings excelled in one sport or the other. Her brothers pursue careers in volleyball and badminton while her sisters pursue hockey and cricket professions. As a young girl, Rajeshwari competed in javelin throw and discus throw. Her late father dreamed that Rajeshwari makes it to the national cricket team. At the age of 18, she decided to pursue cricket as a career while Raj’s heroics came as no surprise, considering her pedigree, it was the performance of Gayakwad that took everyone by surprise, including the New Zealand batswomen who had no answers to her left-arm orthodox bowling.

It was a bold call by the team management to replace someone like Ekta Bisht, who had picked up five wickets in the game against Pakistan earlier in the tournament with an inexperienced player like Gayakwad, but she repaid the faith with some fine bowling and deserves all the praise that’s coming her way.

Rajeshwari was born on 1^st June 1991 in Karnataka, India. She was brought up in a sports-driven family where each of her siblings excelled in one sport or the other. Her brothers pursue careers in volleyball and badminton while her sisters pursue hockey and cricket professions. As a young girl, Rajeshwari competed in javelin throw and discus throw. Her late father dreamed that Rajeshwari makes it to the national cricket team. At the age of 18, she decided to pursue cricket as a career.

In 2009, her performance booked her a spot on the Karnataka Women’s team. In 2014, she made her ODI debut against Sri Lanka. In the same year, she also made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka but lost the match by 3 wickets. In 2017, Rajeshwari’s team made it to the finals of the Women’s Cricket World Cup but lost the game.

In 2019, she played for Trailblazers in the Women’s IPL. In 2020, she was named to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Australia. In 2021, Rajedshwari was part of the Indian squad that played the 5th ODI and WT20I against South Africa. The latter was won by the Indian team.

The 24-year-old all-rounder Deepti Sharma has shown good form and deserves a promotion. Similarly, Gaikwad (30) from Karnataka gets the top grade in the contract list, with Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Poonam Yadav also in Grade A, with an annual Retainership of INR 50 lakhs. Grade B and Grade C players will be assured Rs 30 lakh and Rs 10 lakh annually.

In Wednesday’s Apex Council meeting, the BCCI finalized 17 players for annual contracts, with Sneh Rana (28) making it to the list with Grade C, while Pooja Vastrakar, who was in Grade C last year, was selected. Got promotion in the B category. , Vastrakar has been consistently good for India as an all-rounder and has notably played the role of a finisher since his return.

It is an important year for women’s cricket with the 50-over World Cup starting in New Zealand on March 4. The BCCI is also contemplating starting a women’s IPL, which was discussed recently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council. If everything goes according to plan, then BCCI plans to start the women’s IPL next year.

All the other players were enjoying their moment under the sun. In a quiet corner stood Rajeshwari, clad in a navy blue India blazer, like her teammates. There was the white envelope in her hand that had a cheque of Rs 50 lakh -- she had just hit the paydirt -- a feeling that, perhaps, is yet to sink in.

Gayakwad makes a comeback in all formats after missing out on the England tour due to a knee injury while uncapped Meghna Singh, Yastika Bhatia,

Richa Ghosh who has already made her T20 International debut has also received her maiden Test call-up.

However, Priya Punia, Arundhati Reddy, Indrani Roy, and Radha Yadav, who toured England, have missed out on the Test and ODI sides. In the shortest format, Simran Bahadur, Taniya Bhatia, and Ekta Bisht have also been left out.

Gayakwad, also a left-arm spinner, had sustained a webbing injury to her right hand during a fielding session after India's opening game against Australia Women on March 22. India had lost the match by six wickets.

"The All-India Women's Selection Committee has named Radha Yadav as the replacement for injured Rajeshwari Gayakwad in India's squad for the ongoing Paytm Women's T20 Triangular Series in Mumbai," BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary said in a release.

Interestingly Gayakwad was roped in as a replacement for Ekta Bisht, who was ruled out after she injured her left index finger while attempting a return catch in the third ODI against Australia in Baroda last Sunday.

India Women's T20I squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Mithali Raj, Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), Poonam Yadav, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Pooja Vastrakar, Rumeli Dhar, Mona Meshram, Radha Yadav