Cricket wasn\u2019t just a sport for Renuka; it was the unfulfilled dream of her late father, one she took upon herself to achieve despite all odds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI hadn't seen much cricket as a kid, it was just a hobby, I don't know how it came. I just liked playing. And there was a rule in my village that we used to play with a cloth ball, so you have to throw it fast, otherwise it doesn't go far. So that's how I became a fast bowler. I didn't talk much about my dad with my mom, then one day she told me that it was his hobby. He wanted at least one of his children to play. So, I started taking it seriously and I think cricket probably came about for this reason, as it was my dad's dream,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Renuka\u2019s path to success was anything but easy. She left her village to join a cricket academy, steadily climbing the ranks. However, when she thought she was on track to make it big, she was dropped from the U-19 team, a moment that hit her hard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere were many things at that time, like in my family and I was also dropped from the game. My brother also had an accident, so I couldn't understand how to get out of it. But I liked taking challenges, and after being dropped from the U-19 team, I asked myself how I could prove them wrong. If I perform well. So, I worked very hard after that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
That relentless drive paid off when she made her India debut against Australia in October 2021. And in 2023, RCB picked her for the inaugural WPL season. Though she managed just one wicket in her debut season, she never stopped learning. Seeking wisdom from the best, she turned to Jasprit Bumrah for advice on handling pressure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI had a long conversation with him after the WPL. I was feeling like I had taken on too much pressure, so I asked him how to deal with it. He told me that the more matches you play, the more you\u2019ll get used to it. The more people watch you, the more pressure increases. But how you handle it matters,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Now, back at her best, Renuka has 10 wickets to her name and held the purple cap at various points in the season. Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL has been a thrilling experience for her.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI had a long conversation with him after the WPL. I was feeling like I had taken on too much pressure, so I asked him how to deal with it. He told me that the more matches you play, the more you\u2019ll get used to it. The more people watch you, the more pressure increases. But how you handle it matters,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n