Mithali Raj is one of the biggest factors to take the sport seriously: Vanitha VR

Having donned the Indian colours in 16 T20Is and 6 ODIs, Vanitha VR is considered as one of the biggest names in Indian Cricket. She managed to grab the attention of many in her short stint in the Indian team.



Just wanted to be around with her brother, Vanitha started playing gully cricket. At the age of 11, her father took her to the KIOC (Karnataka Institute of Cricket). Born on July 19, 1990, she made her debut in the Indian team at the age of 24. Despite being the big hitter, she is still struggling to seal her spot in the team.



After having a good U-19 season in 2008 and being consistent till 2011 in the domestic circuit, she didn’t get the chance in the national team. She had to face rejection several times in her life. But she never stops doing hard work. Every time she has faced rejection, she has come back strongly.



 



During a match for India A. ©Vanitha VR



 



Recently Shruti Banerjee had a chat with Vanitha VR:



Here are some excerpts from the exclusive interview:



 



What exactly made you get into the cricket?



It was my brother and my father that I fell in love with the game. I always wanted to be around my brother when I was young. He used to play gully cricket and I used to join him. So, that’s how I got into this game.



Tell us about your initial days!



I started playing cricket at the age of 11 and represented the state in U-16. At 14, I played in the senior team. Honestly speaking, Karnataka team didn’t get to play many games as they hardly qualify for the finals. Though I have been with the team for almost 16-17 years now. The journey is very exciting. There are ups and downs but it feels great.



Though my father and brother are cricket enthusiasts, my mother was not sure about my career at first. As you know, being a girl, education is much more secure than holding a bat in those days. Then we hardly get paid. Now there is lots of money and we can look after ourselves. But that time without money or fame, it was just passion which kept me going.



How difficult was it for you to choose cricket over academics? Did education take a back seat once you decided to become a professional cricketer? 



It wasn't difficult as I find it's a nice way to get away from studies. Because I felt study was way more difficult than cricket (she giggles)! Even still now I feel I can go and play hours after hours but I can’t study for 20 minutes.



Yes, very much. I never had that much time to study. It was difficult to manage both at a time. I felt more connected towards cricket than education.



What was the role of your family while shaping your career?



My family played a major role. They have been my moral support throughout the years and are very supportive. My parents never said that you only have to do one thing. They always said you have to do both parts equally like you have to study as well as to play cricket.



You had a good U-19 season in 2008 after your debut for Karnataka in 2006. After being consistent, in 2011, again you didn’t get the chance in the national team. What did you think that time?



Honestly speaking, after performing well constantly, selectors always overlooked because they had few reasons I guess. Some selectors even told me that Karnataka never won games so, they couldn't select players from Karnataka. I felt hurt. I had a wonderful 2011 season but they again overlooked. It felt really bad again.



Back then I never used to open, I used to bat at middle order so I hardly get chance to play with upper order batters. I had to play with the tail-enders always and it was difficult to rotate the strike too. It was very challenging at that time as we never used to qualify so it was tough to do well in those 3-4 matches.



I had a great season in 2013 Challengers Trophy and because of that, I got the chance in the national team.



 



With her idol, Mithali Raj, the captain of India team in ODI format. ©Vanitha VR



 



What was your feeling when you got the chance to play your first International match?



I was happy as well as very nervous. I got a golden duck on my debut. Mithali Raj told me that she wanted to hug me that time and I was like, yeah, ok, Thank you! (She giggles)! That was a really nice gesture of her. That is why I really like her a lot. Because she is not only a great cricketer but a great human being as well. Even other seniors too encouraged me a lot.



In your 2nd T20I match you had to open with your idol Mithali Raj. What was going through your mind at that time when you got to know this?



I was so happy and I just couldn’t believe that. That’s a wonderful feeling. I can’t explain how happy I was that time. In every match whenever I used to play with her, I always wondered to see her batting and used to think that how did she pull, how did she manage to play that shot! At the other end, I was struggling and she was the one, playing with pure bliss and timing. I used to ask her every time, how did you manage to get that shot! Whatever little chances I got, I enjoyed batting with her a lot. She used to guide me a lot.



Tell us about your 109 knock for the South Zone.



We were playing against the Central Zone. One of the best bowling attacks were there as Deepti Sharma, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht and Rajeshwari Gayakwad were playing for Central Zone. As I said earlier, I never opened the innings in the day’s game. I usually bat in the middle order but particularly in that game, I was asked to open. I was playing at one end and at the other end, the wickets were falling. The wicket was very damp on that day. Out of 139, I scored 109 something. Though it was not an easy hundred, it was a very good inning!



What was your coach Irfan Sait’s role in making you a cricketer?



He has helped me a lot. Without his support, I wouldn’t be here. Whatever I am today, it's because of him  He has attributed a lot to my career. That is why I owe him a lot.



 



After winning the series for India A. ©Vanitha VR



 



You last played an ODI in 2014 and T20I in 2016. But you are regular in the domestic circuit and despite being a big hitter, you are still trying to seal a spot in the national side. How do you look at it?



It’s actually quite challenging. As everyone is performing well in the opening spot. So, I am competing with a lot of people now what I used to do earlier. Before it was for the middle order but now for the opening spot too. It’s great as it's been a healthy competition. We look at each other and we share a good laugh but still, we compete on the field only. We hold nothing against each other, it's just a healthy competition.



In 2016, you faced a rough patch in your international career and then you decided to quit too. But Dr Shree Advani helped you to overcome that phase. Tell us about that.



Every person goes through some phases like this. I was going through a very low phase. I had self-doubts. Sometimes you get some feelings like do you really belong to this phase? I too had that phase. That time I was struggling a lot. I was down as I was not performing well. Then Dr Shree Advani (brother of the Snooker and Billiard Champion, Pankaj Advani) helped me to get over this phase.



I had a mental coach then, with whom I worked a lot. He too helped me to move over that phase. So, I would say, they both helped me to get back on the track.



As an International cricketer, fitness is one of the most important things. We have seen you are a fitness freak. Tell us about your fitness routine.



Someone, if you see, is a fitness freak, you will understand that he/she might have bullied for that. I was bullied a lot for this as I was never fit. My father was the biggest critic. He used to tell me, "why are you so fat? You don't look like a cricketer. I think you should lose weight to be a cricketer." My dad has been a big motivating factor. He guided us a lot and always tells that if you want to play long, then fitness is the key. Because of him, I took fitness very seriously.



As per the fitness routine, every season it is different. Currently, I am focusing on my performance. Fitness can help me to perform better. Working a lot on my strength, on my movements, strength, stability, my endurance and speed as well. In short, I am trying to cover every aspect. Also, I do yoga, meditation and lots of breathing exercises. My sister is a yoga instructor who has helped a lot in this. As I am very hyper, yoga has definitely helped me a lot.



In cricket, you need to have a good mental strength too. So, what do you do to be mentally strong?



I train my mind and keep doing things which my coaches tell. Also, I read lots of books, cricket articles etc. I love to spend time with other sports athletes too and try to understand their mindsets as well.



You have shared the dressing room with great players like Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Tell us about the experience. Did you find it difficult to interact with them as a youngster?



Mithali has been a big factor for me to take the sport very seriously. She is my idol. I look up to her and so is Jhulan. Jhulan too is my friend. Off the field, we all share a very good rapport. We chill out, laugh out. They are very professional and any cricketers these days whom I talk, I actually tell these two names to look up to because if you want to learn women’s cricket, these two are the best because they both carry a wonderful work ethics firstly and their passion towards the game over the period and I really like to go inside their brains one day and want to know what is going on there (she giggles)!



In terms of approaching people, I always reach out to them. I never find it difficult to interact. Girls think Mithali is very serious but she is never like that. She is very chilled out and opens. Jhulan is someone who goes and talks to people but Mithali will not go and talk to people. She talks to people who come and talk to her. That’s the difference between them.



 



Sharing a good laugh with the team-mates. ©Vanitha VR



 



With the T20 World Cup around the corner, how do you look at India’s chances to win it and your message for the Indian team?



Great chance to win it as the girls are shaping up very well. Once the right combination is set, I am sure we can see another era in our way.



You have played under Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy in the International side and Smriti Mandhana in the Challenger trophy. How will you describe their captaincy?



Everyone is completely different. But I enjoyed a lot playing under Mithali and Smriti. They are always calm and very chilled out. Harman and Jhulan are very aggressive, it’s nice in a way but I enjoyed maximum under those two.



Women’s cricket is seeing a transitional phase as Harmanpreet Kaur, Veda Krishnamurthy and Smriti Mandhana are playing in T20 leagues. What’s your thought on this?



It’s very nice. But it’s sad that after being the finalist in the world cup, only 2-3 players are getting chances. It should have been more, rather more bowlers. Our bowlers have done a great job in the World Cup. I am very sure they will get the chance too.



You have started a company called Orgobliss in 2013 along with your brother. What exactly it is all about?



It’s about an organic business where we focus on fruits. Not many people are aware of the proper healthy fruit. I thought to showcase that eating healthy is also important for a healthy life. So, we are trying our best to do.



 



With her brother, Suresh VR. ©Vanitha VR



 



You are going to play in the Challenger Trophy. Did you plan anything for this?



Nothing planned yet.



What is your next goal?



That is a secret. I am keeping it under the wrap now. Let’s see how things will shape up. I slowly open the boxes.



Any regret?



No regret at all.



How’s Vanitha VR off the field?



Very chilled out and jovial. Love to watch movies and Netflix. I love to click pictures.



 



Rapid Fire:



Favourite Food: Biriyani



Favourite Book: Inner Engineering by Sadhguru and Relentless by Tim Groover



Favourite Player (both male & female): Mithali Raj, Virat Kohli and Ricky Pointing.



Favourite sports person outside cricket: Roger Federer.



Idol/Inspiration: Mithali Raj



Name the one bowler, who, according to you is tough to bat? Anya Shrubsole.



Most memorable moment of life: Winning the series against Australia in Australia in 2016



Any Embarrassing moment: Whenever I get out on a duck!



Yourself in one word: Fighter



 



Which cricketer comes to your mind hearing these words!



Aggressive: Virat Kohli



Cool: Mithali Raj



Introvert: Taniya Bhatia



Foodie: Myself (She giggles)!



Style Icon: Virat Kohli, Mithali Raj