Cricket runs in every single corner of India. It is more like a religion here and even if you don’t have enough facilities, you cannot stop falling in love with the game.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad comes from a modest background and is one of the five kids of Government teacher. Having no facilities in her place, Gayakwad had to travel for her coaching. She calls her father a superhero because he was there throughout her training career right from taking her to coaching classes at 4 am. She had the support of her family and all her siblings are into sports as well.
When she began her career she used to hit the nets with her friend’s kit because she couldn’t afford one. She wanted to become a fast bowler too.
It was her coach who suggested that she could be a spinner and the rest is history.
After some good performances, she got into the domestic team and then slowly she moved to Bangalore. She had difficulties in adapting to the place but she slowly did. Within years, she is now travelling all around the world and is making heads turn.
Her debut came in 2014 where she took on Sri Lanka. She played both ODI and T20I series. While that series was memorable as she bagged nine wickets in total. In the next few days, she lost her father due to cardiac arrest and soon she became the breadwinner for the family.
Right from 2014, she had to fight for her place, blame the number of quality spinners India produced. Her big breakthrough was certainly the five wickets against New Zealand in the World Cup 2017.
After the World Cup, she requested officials to help her out with a house rather than gifting her a car.
She then was in and out of the team, once again blame the number of talents in the team but 2019 and 2020 are good to her. It is like an upgraded version of her. She began to open the bowling and made sure to control the runs as well as pick up early wickets.
She did well in the senior domestic tournaments as well as against Australia A. She also played a vital role in India’s run to the final in the recent T20I World Cup.
Her presence of mind is one of the reasons why she is successful. The way she changes her length according to batter’s approach is one of her strengths. Also, she doesn’t try too much but to keep things simple.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad with no doubts will be India’s go-to bowler for more years to come and I’m sure she will be a part in India’s upcoming victories.
Happy Birthday, Rajeshwari Gayakwad.
