Daijiworld Media Network –Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 23: In what can be termed as a real life ‘Chak De’ match, ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be held on Sunday, July 23 will definitely push us at the edge of our seat. This is only the second time, India is qualified to play the finals and if the ‘Women in Blue’ manages to beat England, they will create history by winning the first world cup for the country in Women’s cricket.
In this splendid cricket team captained by the very able Mithali Raj, two Karnataka girls Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad have become the team's noted players, whose efforts have resulted in team being qualified for the finals.
India’s match against New Zealand saw Rajeshwari Gayakwad picking five wickets and trashing New Zealand by 186 runs to reach the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-finals. Veda too scored a whirlwind 70 off 45 balls in the same match. The team then ousted defending champion Australia in the semi-finals and qualified for the finals due to take place today.
However, to realize their dream for playing for the Indian Cricket team, the two Karnataka women have struggled against all odds.
Veda Krishnamurthy
Veda Krishnamurthy is a daughter of a cable operator, who moved to Bengaluru from Kadur in Chikkamagaluru district to pursue cricket.
“When she first went to Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC) the coach who recognized her potential said that she would play for India. My father didn’t know what to do,” says Vatsala, Veda’s sister.
For nine months Veda stayed in Bengaluru without her family. Later, Vatsala moved with her to take care of her. “Our father ensured that we had no shortcomings and Veda also worked very hard,” says Vatsala recalling what she calls the ‘tough days’.
“There has never been a situation where my parents or siblings have stopped me from playing. Since I was a kid, I was always on the streets and my mother never discouraged me from playing with boys. In fact, she encouraged me to play all the 'boys' sports,” Veda was quoted saying to a sports magazine.
Irfan Sait, Veda’s coach at KIOC, recollects the 24-year-old as always being dynamic and hard-working. With a background in Karate she is agile and has excellent hand and eye coordination, he says and adds that he played her in the team only because of her fielding and catching. She was only 14 then.
“We always knew she would be a top cricketer. Veda is only living up to it,” he said.
Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Meanwhile, journey for Rajeshwari Gayakwad has also not been easy. Gayakwad who was declared the player of the match after she took five wickets in the match against Kiwis on July 15, had to shift from Vijayapura in North Karnataka to pursue her dream.
Savithri, Rajeshwari’s mother, credits her late husband Shivananda Gayakwad, a government school headmaster, for the 26-year-old’s success and adds that he would have been very proud to watch his daughter play the finals.
“My husband had great passion for cricket and encouraged our children to take up sports,” she says.
In a matter of fact, sports run deep in this family. Rajewshwari is an accomplished javelin and discus thrower; also a volleyball player. But she switched to cricket on her father's insistence.
Her youngest sister Rameshwari is a state level cricketer in Karnataka and has also played for India Green. Her eldest sister, Bhuvaneshwari, is a hockey player and one of the brothers, Vishwanath, is a badminton and volleyball player.
“Those initial days were tough as we had to take care of the family expenses and cricket coaching expenses with our limited salary. Yet, he saw to it that the coaching didn’t get affected. If he were alive today, he would have been elated and would have celebrated the most just by looking at the success of our daughter,” Savithri was quoted telling a newspaper.
Recently, Sachin Tendulkar also encouraged Rajewshwari with a post, “Shivanand Gayakwad, your father, is your source of inspiration and encouragement, Rajeshwari. I’m sure you will be that same source of inspiration for many young men and women to come. Well played!”