Ahead of the Women’s Premier League Auction a couple of names, together with that of 22-year-old Vrinda Dinesh, have been doing the spherical as gamers who might probably steal the limelight in Mumbai come the public sale day. And as anticipated Dinesh did steal the limelight with a whopping price ticket of INR 1.3 crore – second solely to her teammate Kashvee Gautam and Australia’s Annabel Sutherland’s price ticket of INR 2 Crore at this yr’s public sale.
On the day of the public sale, Dinesh was in Raipur, coaching for the continued U-23 Women’s T20I event. Gujarat Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore obtained into bidding to purchase the companies of the batter earlier than UP Warriorz swooped in late within the piece to outbid the opposite two franchises.
From a base worth of INR 10 lakh, Dinesh might hardly imagine her remaining worth when she was knowledgeable about it by her teammates.
“I overheard my teammates whispering and I believed it was 1. 3 lakhs after which I used to be like, ‘That’s unimaginable.’ Then, it simply hit me that it’s ‘crores’ and it’s one thing I by no means imagined,” Dinesh advised News18 CricketNext in an unique interview.
She added that she would have been more than happy to have been picked up at the base price itself.
“I was happy even if I was picked at the base price (Rs 10 lakh) because I just wanted to play. As soon as I heard that, my teammates, who were batting in the nets… everyone left everything and gave me a big hug. We all smiled and laughed about it,” she mentioned.
And after the preliminary euphoria at Raipur, it was her mom who Dinesh referred to as up first to share the information.
“The first name I made was to my mother. I’ve all the time wished to make them [family] proud so I simply wished to hear how they felt as a result of they have been those who have been seeing the auctions. It was good. It is a second that I’m going to bear in mind for the remainder of my life,” Dinesh said.
The Waiting Game
Dinesh comes from a family fond of cricket. Her father, her uncle and her cousins; played the game at a certain level and was natural for her to pick it up as well.
In 2013, S Dinesh – Vrinda’s father – took his daughter to a cricket academy. Until then, Dinesh, like any other cricketer in India was a gully cricket regular. And did not take long for Dinesh to transition to season ball cricket and in a matter of five years, she became a prominent figure in Karnataka’s age-group teams, even graduating to the senior team.
But it has not always been smooth sailing for her. She had to warm benches for close to two years in the senior team, despite an early debut, but she persisted and persevered.
“It was, I think, pre-COVID where we had this under 23 tournament and I got over three 50s there.
“But I was also picked for the senior squad and I was, I was on the bench for a long time. I thought I would probably get a game somewhere. But it took me two years. Those two years, I worked so hard… all I could think of was trying to play the next game,” she mentioned
“It took me 2 years to be in a position to do this. And as soon as I obtained that, I didn’t need to let go of that chance. And I feel that was the primary time Karnataka reached the finals within the one-dayers. I’m grateful that I didn’t get to play in these two years, because it constructed the character that I’m right now,” she added.
Earlier, this year, Dinesh scored 477 runs at an average of 47.70 in 11 innings to lead Karnataka to the Senior Women’s ODI title and as luck would have it when an unlikely opportunity presented itself in front of her during the ACC Emerging Teams Cup in Hong Kong, she seized the opportunity with both hands, leading to call ups for trails in various WPL teams.
Batting at No.3 against Bangladesh, she smashed a 29-ball 36 with the help of 5 boundaries and a six.
The knock led to an invitation from the scouts to attend WPL trials for all five franchises. Dinesh attended all of them but liked UP Warriorz the most.
“I’m grateful to the UP Warriorz. I’ve played with them before. I was really happy with how they conducted this. How they taught me a few skills. I was just really happy to be able to play the WPL. UP Warriors was a franchise; when the trials were held, I liked it. So, I was really happy to be picked by them and looking forward to giving my best and doing everything I can to help them win this tournament,” she mentioned.
‘Batting with Alisa Healy, it’s all the time been a dream’
UP Warriorz is a star-studded camp. Deepti Sharma, Alyssa Healy, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Ecclestone… and now, Dinesh goes to be an element of it too. The 22-year-old is happy and nervous in equal measure to share the dressing room with the large gamers.
“I’m excited and I’m equally nervous to be in a position to play one of the perfect bowlers like Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell… face them within the nets, it’s one thing I’ll have to come ready for,” she said.
“Batting with Alisa Healy, it’s always been a dream. I’ve always looked up to her. So, it’s gonna be both excitement and nervousness,” she added.
‘No price tag pressure, just want to give 100 per cent’
Dinesh although is aware of that it’s just the start and he or she can’t get carried away and has to be targeted on the job at hand.
“Whether it’s the value that I’ve obtained or not, I, I’ve to be accountable about the best way I play, um, you understand, to be in a position to take the group ahead. It is a duty that I like, and I like to play with. The price ticket just isn’t going to make a lot of a distinction to me as a result of I simply need, I’m right here to benefit from the sport,” Dinesh said.
“I’m just gonna be there and take in everything, be happy, enjoy the game, and give it my best.”
‘UP Warriorz has a happy vibe’
A Virat Kohli fan, Dinesh likes the RCB as properly. Her shut good friend, Shreyanka Patil, performs for the franchise and he or she had already requested her a ton of questions on RCB. But, she felt a very totally different vibe with the Warriorz.
“I’m an enormous fan of RCB. I really like Virat Kohli and every part about RCB. But I’ve additionally appreciated UP Warriors loads as a result of I’ve been with them and you understand, that ambiance feels very welcome. It’s a really good and completely happy vibe. So, I used to be trying ahead to being picked by UP Warriors and right here I’m,” Dinesh said.
Team India – the ultimate goal
Similar to IPL, WPL could very well prove to be the pathway to the Indian Women’s National Team and Dinesh is looking forward to improving her game which she can carry with her to the Indian dressing room one day.
“I do have those aspirations. It’s always been a dream to play for the country and it will always be. But I’m also trying to take it one thing at a time. Whatever experience I get from the WPL, I want to put it into practice while playing for my country one day and probably winning a lot of matches for the country,” she concluded.
