Another player who ably paired with Captain Mithali Raj and led India to the semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup is Veda Krishnamurthy. Her quick-fired 70 from 45 balls crushed New Zealand by 186 runs and guided India to a historic win.
Here are few things to know about the right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler from Karnataka:
- The July 15 match was important for Veda as she collected her first half-century in 14 ODIs.
FIFTY! @vedakmurthy08 gets her sixth ODI half-century for India! #INDvNZ #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/CuMdLmg16T
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 15, 2017
- Veda was just 18 years old -- youngest in the team -- when she debuted against England in 2011, and batted a powerful half-century.
#MithaliRaj and Veda Krishnamurthy: best friends off the field, and now a prolific partnership on it ?
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 16, 2017
? https://t.co/TJEcWUpWbv pic.twitter.com/4sXS1W35qk
- She was enthusiastic about bat and ball since 4-year-old as she tagged along with her brother and his gang to routine games in the evenings.
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- The youngest of four siblings, Veda’s parents had plans for her non-cricketing career and to make her an IAS or IPS officer. Despite having a strong interest in cricket, to boost self-confidence and physical fitness, she was enrolled in a martial arts class as a child. At the age of 12, she earned a double black belt, which eventually helped her stint in cricket.
Congratulations @BCCIWomen for entering d semis! Top stuff @RajMithali @ImHarmanpreet @vedakmurthy08 for the beautiful Knocks ??
— Manan Vohra (@ImMananVohra) July 16, 2017
- Veda faced trouble to pursue her career in cricket initially. Her family lived in Kadur, far from Bengaluru where her father owned a cable operating business. The town lacked basic cricketing facilities, and being a girl, pursuing a sport in a small town was even tougher.
- When she was 12 she learnt about a cricket academy in Bengaluru.Veda insisted to her father to enrol her there.
"Success got to my head”, she told Cricbuzz. “I was 18 when I played for India and scored a fifty against England on debut. I feel I got carried away.”
- After her first triumph, due to her performance drop, she was sent off to domestic cricket. She again joined the Karnataka Institute of Cricket where she had started as a 12-year-old.
#INDvNZ For those who have missed this girl Veda Krishnamurthy has played one of THE BEST innings in ladies cricket under pressure HAT'S OFF pic.twitter.com/Nx8wVqGXOf
— The Godfather (@imsudhir_s) July 15, 2017
- She persistently played for Indian Railways, and her job in Delhi with Western Railways led her to push out of her comfort zone.
"I, as a person, as a player, changed drastically after that incident. Those years taught me a lot. I played for a different team rather than my state and that experience gave me strength. I've learnt my lessons the hard way."
- It was then in 2005, when Irfan Siat, chief coach at KIOC, spotted a young girl with grit and determination at his academy.
https://twitter.com/PriyaVijayRain2/status/886285292235370496
- Veda then started training in Bengaluru with the KIOC boy's teams, and in a few years, she bagged a place in the Karnataka senior team.
WHAT A CATCH!
— ICC (@ICC) February 20, 2017
This is quite simply stunning from Veda Krishnamurthy as India remain unbeaten on their way to the #WWC17 Qualifier final! pic.twitter.com/O81B2JrQ2P
- The power-packed cricket returned to the Indian team in 2015, with a knock of 63, encountering a strong New Zealand.
- Veda looks up to Suresh Raina's batting and fielding
Brilliant century by @M_Raj03 and a great attacking innings from @vedakmurthy08 .Wish Team India the best to reach the semis#indvnz #WWC17
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 15, 2017
The stars stood up on the big day. @M_Raj03 is a legend but @ImHarmanpreet too. Good to see @vedakmurthy08 playing a decisive knock.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 15, 2017
- She has had only seven ODI knocks in 2017. She is playing her first World Cup.
Special mention to @M_Raj03 & Kar Girls Rajeshwari Gayakwad & Veda Krishnamurthy for brilliant performance securing India's victory #INDvsNZ
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) July 15, 2017
Veda Krishnamurthy....you're a rockstar. What. An. Innings. If India goes on to win this one, her innings will be the difference ?? #WWC17
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 15, 2017
What a captains knock from @M_Raj03 ?Not to forget the impact innings from Veda Krishnamurthy?C'mon @BCCIWomen we can win this? #WWC17
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 15, 2017
All You Need To Know About The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup
Feature Image Credit: Cricbuzz
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