Odia girls are proving their mettle in the Indian woman’s cricket scene. The latest to secure a place in Indian Women’s Cricket team is Swagatika Rath.
Rath from Jajpur district became the third Odia girl after Madhuri Mehta and Rosnara Parveen to don the national jersey when she was selected for Indian women’s cricket team to play in the Bangladesh series. The 19-year-old all-rounder — right-hand batsman and right arm off-break bowler— always had a keen interest in cricket. However, it was during her higher secondary days, under the tutelage of her uncle and coach Gyanchand Das that she started taking the game more seriously.
She began well at the domestic level, but her career graph plummeted following a string of poor performances in 2010-2011. She then worked on her basics and went on to excel. Playing the practice match of the Women’s World Cup 2013 tournament against Pakistan, she played a major role in Odisha team’s victory by scoring 53 runs and taking two wickets.
Similarly, in the under-19, inter-zone T-20 match held at Vijaywada this year, she represented the East zone and won ‘Player of the series’ trophy.
She feels that after the World Cup, more women in the state are keen to take up cricket as a career option. “Today, more girls, even from interiors of the state, are dreaming of becoming cricketers. The Odisha Cricket Association has obviously done a lot in terms of infrastructure and training. Now, an Odisha Premier League for women in the state could do wonders. In fact, we could have an IPL for women cricketers in the country. It will bring a sea change in women’s sports,” says Rath.
Among women cricketers, Poonam Raut impresses Rath, who has played two T-20 and three ODIs for India.
— diana@newindianexpress.com