In May 2024, the cricket world buzzed with news of a “discarded” Indian allrounder making waves with the bat against the nation’s top bowlers.
That player was Arundhati Reddy, who worked her way back into the spotlight after an impressive 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Her resurgence began at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where her coach, Arjun Dev, encouraged her to test herself against India’s best bowlers.
Her 98-run knock, following a top-order collapse, was enough to grab the attention of selectors and Indian Women’s team head coach Amol Muzumdar, who was busy with a batters’ camp ahead of India’s multi-format series against South Africa.
Arundhati’s ability to perform under pressure didn’t just catch the selectors’ eyes; she also highlighted herself as a transformed cricketer.
Ironically, it wasn’t her bowling but this batting display that reignited interest in a bowler who had been sidelined for almost three years.
Arundhati’s career had stagnated after her exclusion from the national side, but her determination to push through adversity has proven to be the key to her remarkable comeback.
The 2024 T20 World Cup marked another significant moment for Arundhati when she stepped up for India in a crucial match against Pakistan.
With Pooja Vastrakar, one of India’s leading new-ball bowlers, out of action, Arundhati was called to bowl in the PowerPlay.
Despite fielding errors costing her some early chances, Arundhati stayed composed and stuck to her strengths.
Her persistence paid off when she achieved her career-best T20I figures of 3/19, leading India to a crucial win and marking her triumphant return to international cricket.
Arundhati’s journey back to the top was not easy. Conversations with Ananya Upendran, her former Hyderabad teammate and current Delhi Capitals scout, made her realise that she needed to change to revive her India career.
She decided to leave the comfort and financial security of her job with the Railways and joined the Delhi Capitals for the 2023 WPL.
Although Delhi Capitals provided her with the financial stability she needed, the game time and new challenges motivated her to push harder.
A pivotal moment in Arundhati’s transformation came when Biju George, Delhi Capitals’ fielding coach, connected her with Kerala head coach Suman Sharma.
Moving to Kerala helped her further develop her skills, with a focus on adapting her bowling style to modern demands.
Her new approach, bowling stump-to-stump with accuracy and learning to trust her variations, transformed her into a more versatile T20 bowler.
Dev’s coaching, focused on building her confidence and refining her skills, helped Arundhati become more effective in the PowerPlay and death overs.
By 2024, Arundhati had become a key player for Delhi Capitals, trusted by captain Meg Lanning to deliver in pressure situations.
Her impressive WPL performances and refined bowling skills made her an invaluable asset for India.
Her coach, Arjun Dev, said, “Things fell into place much quicker than we thought,” Arundhati has only grown stronger.
Her recent performances, including a Player of the Match effort against Pakistan, have solidified her comeback. “I wanted to play for India again,” Arundhati said.
After three difficult years, she has proven that her resilience and dedication to improving her skills have brought her back to the highest level, with a focus on becoming the best allrounder in the world.
