It was meant to be: Young India spinner Vaishnavi on cricket career

It was written in the stars, or so her father believed.

Long before Vaishnavi Sharma picked up a cricket ball, her future as a sportsperson had already been predicted by her astrologer father, Narendra Sharma. The 20-year-old left-arm spinner from Gwalior made her India debut in the T20 International format last year in a home series against Sri Lanka.

“When I was four years old, my journey in sports began. As you all know, my father is an astrologer. He looked at my horoscope and said that I should either go into sports or the medical field,” Vaishnavi told PTI Videos.

“After that, it was a question of where my own interest lay. Over time, he understood that my interest was in sports. When I was seven, I started playing more seriously, including attending evening practice sessions.

“And when I was 11 or 12 years old, I played my first Under-16 match for Madhya Pradesh. It wasn’t under the BCCI back then, but that’s where my journey really began,” she recalled.

In the five-match series against Sri Lanka, she finished as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker with five scalps. Vaishnavi says she has been certain about cricket from the very beginning.

“When I started playing cricket, this was always my goal. I never focused on any other ambition. Whenever I go to the ground, I forget everything else, because the feeling I get after playing cricket is something I don’t get from anything else,” she said.

“I can’t sit idle at home. Even when I’m doing my favourite things, my love for cricket takes over, and I don’t think about anything else,” she added.

Her journey, however, has not been without setbacks. Vaishnavi admitted she was disappointed after missing out on selection during the Women’s Premier League auction before her Sri Lanka call-up.

“Of course, it feels very bad when you have expectations. I had them too, and I was really disappointed. But I was playing a tournament at that time, so my entire focus was on my team. The Under-23 tournament was a big stage for me, and I kept my attention only on that,” she said.

“Then I realised that I can only control what’s in my hands and leave the rest to God. And when I did that, He gave me something even better.”

Instead of dwelling on the setback, Vaishnavi channelled her energy into domestic cricket.

“I never showed that disappointment on the field. I was sad in my room, and I spoke to my family. My friends, parents, brother and seniors all reached out to me.

“Yes, I was upset, but I never let that reflect on the field. I focused on what I could control, which at that time was Under-23 cricket for Madhya Pradesh,” she said.

A few weeks later, her perseverance paid off with a maiden India call-up, and walking into a dressing room filled with World Cup winners proved to be an emotional moment.

“I was very nervous. I kept thinking about how they would react and how I should start a conversation. But when I reached there, everyone welcomed me warmly, spoke to me and made me feel comfortable. I bonded really well with them,” she said.

Despite now being teammates, Vaishnavi admits she is still a fan of captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

“I will always have those butterflies when I’m about to meet Harman di. They are big stars. I used to watch them on television, and now I’m playing alongside them. That excitement will always be there,” she smiled.

Vaishnavi says she idolises Harmanpreet’s fighting spirit, while Smriti Mandhana inspires her approach to the game.

“Smriti di and Harman di are my role models. I once saw an interview where Smriti di said that even if she contributes to the team, she celebrates that day and starts again from zero the next morning. From Harman di, I’ve learned the never-give-up attitude,” she said.

“The best thing about Harman di is that whenever she gives me the ball, she tells me, ‘Go and bowl freely, bowl your best and make the batter dance.’ The entire team is very supportive.”

On the bowling front, Vaishnavi draws inspiration from Ravindra Jadeja and Radha Yadav for their accuracy and control.