Batting on

All of 14, Yakshi is an aspiring cricketer. Every afternoon post school, she is sweating it out with 115 boys, who keep her company. Focused to make a mark in the gentleman’s game, this sporty girl, a class ninth student has chosen a path not so travelled.

Strong basics

While its sports that have always attracted Yakshi more, but in no measure does she underestimate the value of academics. Always amongst the top three in her class, currently a student at KBDAV School sector 7, Yakshi has maintained a healthy balance between the ground and classroom, and takes her revision as seriously as her practice. Maths and science being her favourites, she enjoys her books as much as bowling.

Game changer

Basketball was Yakshi’s first serious game and she enjoyed a good run playing for her boarding school Pine Grove in the under 14 category in Indian Public Schools' Conference. But after she moved to Chandigarh she changed her sport preference too. Currently training under Sukhwinder Bawa she is aiming at being a fast bowler. “I am rather new to cricket but I love the atmosphere at D.A.V. Lahore Cricket Academy- sector 8.”  Bowling to an all boys team (not that she gets intimidated), Yakshi wishes there were more girls to give her company. “Despite the Indian team winning Women’s World Cup, I fail to understand why there aren’t many takers for cricket,” wonders the girl whose classmates have opted for badminton over other games. “I did not think twice that she would be the only girl practising with a bunch of boys,” shares her father Satinder Kumar, an entrepreneur who derives inspiration from wrestlers Geeta and Babita Phogat’s father who turned against society to get the best for his girls.

 Strong resolve

Her day starts at the crack of the dawn, she hits for professional fitness training early followed by her school. Post school, it’s cricket practice Yakshi’s mind. All motivated, she has recently turned non-vegetarian in order to maintain a better protein diet. “This helps me to achieve the best level of fitness.”

Idol talk

In her idol’s list figures Tanya Bhatia, who graduated from the same ground and is now part of the Indian team. Fast bowler Jhulan Goswami is another cricketer she looks up to.  Just like Jhulan, Yakshi aims to be an all-rounder. 

Step up

With eyes set on cricket, Yakshi believes in giving her best at the moment, “That’s all I have in hand.”

— As told to Mona