MATCH STORIES
Follow UsArundhati Reddy has seen the best of both worlds in a short international career.
From making her T20I debut for India in 2018 at just 21 to being out of the national side for three years. From representing the domestic giant Railways to moving to Kerala's humble but effervescent cricket scene.
That’s when a decision is made for the ones who still have the zeal to come back — the ones whose journeys have seen so much struggle that comeback and survival are ingrained in their DNA.
Reddy’s story wasn’t going to end there. She returned and worked hard on her bowling in the Kerala side. Then, she worked with Arjun Dev, who also coaches Shreyanka Patil, at the NICE Academy in Bengaluru on her batting.
The improvements in her game were strongly reflected in the performances she dished out playing for the Kerala women’s side, which Delhi Capitals also noted in the WPL auction. Then, a strong bowling performance in the WPL 2024, where she picked up eight wickets, ensured that her way to the Indian side was clear.
Making her ODI debut during the second ODI in the series, she announced her return on the international stage with an absolute ripper of an inswinger — a specialty of Reddy’s bowling offerings — that penetrated the defense of Tazmin Brits.
However, in the third ODI, Reddy's true potential and quality were on display.
Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits were easily batting on a Bengaluru surface that looked like a banger for batting after the ball's initial movement faded.
Wolvaardt was batting in silky fashion, scoring boundaries on regular intervals. Harmanpreet Kaur tried everything against her. However, most Indian bowlers until then just couldn’t control giving away one bad ball each over, and that’s when Wolvaardt capitalised.
Batting on 61 off 56, a second consecutive century and a huge target seemed inevitable for the Indian women until then. Then Arundhati Reddy happened.
If you look at her pitch map, you’ll find that most of her deliveries are pitched in that full region, which is the bread and butter for batters. However, Reddy’s bowling has a catch. Due to the angle she creates at the crease and then the inward movement of the ball, most of those full deliveries are aimed to make the batter lunge and play the ball. With the keeper up to the stumps, extension of hands becomes the best way to reach these deliveries' pitch.
That’s how Reddy laid her trap on the day.
Reddy bowled the fifth ball of the 20th over full and on middle. Wolvaardt was always going to hit it. However, when she extended her hands to play the shot, the ball lobbed up straight back to Reddy. And she showed incredible reflexes to hold on to that because it was also hit with power.
South Africa’s skipper and their best batter was gone.
Reddy then repeated the same to Anneke Bosch, who had come to the crease after Tazmin Brits was run out. This time, the return catch was even more spectacular.
This delivery was bowled fuller again. However, it was on off, and Bosch drove it hard towards the left side of Reddy. It was an affair of milliseconds, and Reddy was right on the clock as the ball stuck. She extended her hands to catch the ball safely and quicker than you could blink your eye. By the time you opened them, the batter would have returned to the pavilion.
Two caught and bowled. And suddenly, South Africa were 114/3. Then Patil returned with the ball and had Marizanne Kapp caught and bowled as well. The two students of Arjun Dev had turned the match in India’s favour. South Africa lost the spine of their batting from almost 100/0 in the 20th over to 120/4 in the 27th.
The eventual paltry total of 215/8 was a function of that.
And it was that allrounder who was written off, Arundhati Reddy, who began this comeback for India in the game.
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