Arundhati Reddy: Return of an Allrounder

The tale of Indian allrounder Arundhati Reddy's triumphant return to the national scene in May was enough to cause a stir in the cricket community. After displaying notable batting prowess in the Women's Premier League 2024, her abilities drew the attention of the national cricket team's selectors and head coach. Despite the negative attention received for a few fielding slip-ups, Arundhati’s undying spirit saw her seizing opportunities to showcase her strengths and consistency.

Arundhati's talents truly came to the fore in a match against Pakistan in Dubai. She stepped in for Pooja Vastrakar, one India's new-ball bowlers, and demonstrated excellent control, especially in the PowerPlay. Despite some close calls with catches narrowly missed, Arundhati ultimately reaped rewards for her patience and hard work, securing India's first points at the T20 World Cup 2024 with a career-best performance in T20I of 3/19.

The turning point in Arundhati's career came after conversations with Ananya Upendran, a former teammate and current scout for Delhi Capitals. Recognising the need to make some changes, she was willing to risk her financial security guaranteed by working for Railways to refocus on her cricket career. Not only did she resurrect her and jump-start her stagnated national team career, but she also shone a new light on her improved bowling capabilities.