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Follow UsA day before the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) Auction, Shreyanka Patil was asked, “A player to watch out for from domestic cricket?”
Her unfazed reply was Vrinda Dinesh.
Shreyanka is no stranger to the marvels of Vrinda Dinesh. If anything, she has seen her progress from close quarters, with both of them even sharing several dressing rooms together - from Karnataka to India ‘A’.
Vrinda was an influential factor in India A’s win earlier in the Women's Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where she scored 36 off just 29 to help India post 127, which eventually was enough to seal a massive 31-run win against Bangladesh A.
The Karnataka batter is a prolific run-scorer on the domestic circuit and has the eyeballs for her ability to be a power-hitter up front. She broke through the Indian ranks to the ‘A’ level and entered straight into the playing XI for the final.
She wasn’t in the initial squad, but a late injury to S Yashasri forced the think tank to think differently and gave Vrinda the window of opportunity she had earned from her time at the domestic level. Even then, she wasn’t supposed to be in the XI that night, and her name was only written after Muskan Malik’s kit did not arrive on time.
Not only was she included in the XI, but her impact on the clash couldn’t have been more profound. A right-handed batter in nature, Vrinda has all the cricketing shots: the powerful drive down the ground, the lofted shot over the mid-off region, a powerful pull and a square cut that she picked up from her idol, Meg Lanning.
If that’s her game against pacers, she is equally strong against spinners, with her footwork top-notch at the domestic level. She entered the Auction with a base price of just INR 10 lakh and immediately drove a bidding war amidst the franchises - with RCB, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants.
At the 2022/23 Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy, Vrinda scored 477 runs, averaging a high 47.70, with 76 fours and two sixes, the third-highest run-scorer, including an 81 in the semi-final against Rajasthan. Even at the Inter-Zonal One Day later on, she scored 196 runs at an average of 49 and a strike rate of 105.37.
"But this is more about growing the game in India and seeing these young, amazing Indian players get a chance on a big stage to show everyone what they can do. I think sometimes the international players come in and sort of overshadow that fact,” Healy told ESPNCricinfo.
“I'm here to promote them, I'm not here to promote myself and give myself the best opportunities to go out there and make runs or take wickets. I want them to do that and be really proud of themselves at the end of the tournament."
Vrinda defines consistency, and it is only fitting that the UP Warriorz won the bid for the Indian youngster. Vrinda’s journey has just started, and with Healy acting as her lighthouse, the Karnataka youngster is about to sail towards greener pastures.
