Mumbai\u2019s bowlers dominated in the final, restricting Bengal to 85 runs. Vrushali\u2019s aggressive 45 runs and her partnership with captain Humairaa Kaazi (41 not out) secured an easy win in 12.3 overs. A thumping win for Mumbai at their home ground meant they retained their title and won on November 9, 2023.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt was our dream. We had never won in Mumbai before, and we wanted to win. Even now, I can\u2019t say it in words. But it felt so good that we won the title again in Wankhede. I didn\u2019t play so many matches in the tournament. But I knew that I would get an opportunity in the finals. So, I was always prepared and ready to face any situation,\u201d says Vrushali in an exclusive conversation with IANS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vrushali\u2019s participation in the title clash against Mumbai was her first-ever experience in a knockout match, and she helped them win. Her enterprising shot choices in the final made for delightful viewing, showing she\u2019s no stranger to rising to the occasion in big games. Vrushali says her hitting the winning runs and scooping a four off Titas will forever live rent-free in her mind.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She will also remember with delight Mumbai\u2019s convincing quarterfinal win, where they bowled out the formidable Railways team for a paltry 48 to secure a 61-run win. Despite Vrushali not playing, Mumbai\u2019s resounding win against Railways was a significant result, as many thought their score of 109 wouldn\u2019t be enough to win. \u201cBut, at that time, the history became different, as we were the ones who defeated them. So, I will always be proud of the fact that we defeated Railways. When I joined the Mumbai cricket team, it was a dream to defeat Railways, as everyone knew how good a team they are.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
According to Vrushali, Mumbai began preparing for the tournament in June. Players devoted themselves fully to the fitness camp during the first two months. \u201cNo matter how much rain it was, no one took a day off. We were just playing, whatever it was. As of now, we are still fit and no one has had a major injury,\u201d she recalls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Before their tournament began in Vadodara, Mumbai played practice matches against Pondicherry and Maharashtra. They then spent 20-25 days further preparing for the league stage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAll of us were on the same page from day one. Our bunch has been the same for the last 10 years. But we have been winning in the last two years because of our preparation and planning. Especially with Sunetra mam having all the plans, which made things easy for us,\u201d says Vrushali.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The Sunetra mam being referred to by Vrushali is Sunetra Paranjape, the Mumbai head coach, now a two-time Senior Women\u2019s T20 Trophy-winning coach.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sunetra represented India in three Test matches and 28 ODIs before transitioning into coaching. Sunetra is one of only two women, alongside Aarti Sankaran from Chennai, to have completed the BCCI Level 3 coaching certification.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSunetra mam has always been supportive. She knows which player is going to leave her mark at which time in a game \u2013 like she made match-ups common.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cShe always made such changes around it team combination-wise. She was always ready in preparing for a match, and had her plans ready all the time, especially when we were doing fitness sessions in the indoor area. She would say, \u2018This is our team. We have to win in this, or get a certain player out in that way\u2019. So, it made life very easy for us in the tournament, as players didn\u2019t have to think much about what to do, as we got all plans from her,\u201d added Vrushali.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mumbai\u2019s dominant title-winning run saw just one moment of doubt when they narrowly lost to Goa by a single wicket in Vadodara. Despite finishing as the second-best team in Group A, Mumbai\u2019s strong sense of self-belief carried them all the way to the trophy. \u201cWe knew that we were going to make a comeback. So, we didn\u2019t feel the pressure. After that loss to Goa, when we were in the league phase, we just focused on the matches. And didn\u2019t give anyone an opportunity to come back and take the game away from us,\u201d says Vrushali.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She frankly acknowledges that life as a Mumbai cricketer hasn\u2019t been easy. Coached by Milind Tamane, Vrushali has been a witness to a lot of ups and downs in the last two-three years but calls herself fortunate to have got support from family.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Her father played tennis-ball cricket, while her elder sister played club cricket, before taking up a new career route to stabilise the family financially. The unwavering backing of these three individuals has inspired Vrushali, whose love for playing cricket began as a young kid, to never miss a chance to showcase her skills in the Mumbai set-up.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don\u2019t get many playing opportunities. I don\u2019t have the results in my hand, but I can put in the effort. Whenever I put in the effort, I get the result. Especially, when the team needs it, I am always ready to do the hard work. The coach tells me that I should focus on doing my best, instead of fretting over the results. The support I get from my family is so crucial, as the elder sister knows how to deal with ups and downs in cricket.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The year-round tournaments organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) have helped players hone their skills. \u201cSo, there are more playing opportunities through different types of tournaments. Mumbai supports us very well. We get what we want, that\u2019s why we give results,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mumbai\u2019s celebration after winning the title included a dinner, a late-night party, and a video call from Jemimah Rodrigues, currently playing in Australia\u2019s WBBL.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vrushali\u2019s post-victory celebrations were shortened because she had to play a match for the Rajawadi Cricket Club in the MCA Women\u2019s Cricket League 2024 the next morning. Her club had lost their last match, and Vrushali came back to pick three wickets for five runs as her team won the game with bonus points. With newfound confidence in her aggressive playing style, Vrushali is now determined to win more trophies for Mumbai. The recent victory in the Senior Women\u2019s T20 Trophy at Wankhede suggests they have a good chance of winning the One-Day title as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t there when Jemimah video-called the team, but later, she messaged me. We have been playing together for a long time, and Jemimah felt that my shots in the final were at a different level. She also said this is my strength area, and that I should back it a lot more now.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Vrushali\u2019s post-victory celebrations were shortened because she had to play a match for the Rajawadi Cricket Club in the MCA Women\u2019s Cricket League 2024 the next morning. Her club had lost their last match, and Vrushali came back to pick three wickets for five runs as her team won the game with bonus points. With newfound confidence in her aggressive playing style, Vrushali is now determined to win more trophies for Mumbai. The recent victory in the Senior Women\u2019s T20 Trophy at Wankhede suggests they have a good chance of winning the One-Day title as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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