Sports
WPL 2024: With aims clearly in sight, Shweta Sehrawat eager to capitalize on dream-like run
New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) At first glance, Shweta Sehrawat seems like a regular teenager who enjoys watching movies and playing games in her free time, as well as partaking in fun activities such as going on outings outside Delhi or doing some shopping.
However, if you consider her recent achievements in cricket over the past year and a half, Shweta is anything but an ordinary teenager. There’s a rare sense of excitement and clarity in the right-handed batter’s voice when she discusses how performing as a leader brings out her best.
Shweta’s first tryst with taking up the leadership mantle came as the captain of Delhi U19 side and leading India U19 ‘B’ team in Challenger Trophy. It was followed by leading the side to wins in the quadrangular series featuring Sri Lanka and West Indies, as well as a series win over New Zealand in Mumbai, before Shafali Verma led the team in tri-series in South Africa and in the U19 World Cup.
“I believe I put up good performances when I am entrusted with leadership roles, as I really like taking that responsibility of the team on my shoulders. Plus, there’s also a feeling within me that ‘If I bat on from one end, then others can bat around me’, which is why I really like to thrive as a batter with a leadership responsibility,” says Shweta in a free-wheeling chat with IANS, facilitated by UP Warriorz.
Over the past one-and-a-half years, Shweta has rapidly climbed the ladder of success in women’s cricket. She scored 297 runs with an outstanding average of 99. Moreover, she emerged as the top run-scorer in India’s triumphant 2023 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign, leaving a lasting impression with her unbeaten 92 off just 57 balls against hosts South Africa.
UP Warriorz picked Shweta for the inaugural WPL season last year, but she managed just 34 runs from six games. Due to constant shuffling, her batting position was never stable, and was even left out of the side. Shweta then skippered India ‘A’ to winning the Emerging Women’s Asia Cup in Hong Kong, where constant rain meant the side got to play only two matches.
“The last one and a half years has been an absolute dream time for me – the U19 World Cup win, especially when the country hadn’t got a global trophy in women’s cricket. For me, that was the best-ever feeling and is still very memorable.”
“Then bringing the Emerging Women’s Asia Cup trophy as a leader is also a memorable moment. Also, I performed very well in the senior tournaments in domestic cricket. So, everything is on track and WPL in hand has made me feel like it’s kinda been a dreamlike time for me and it feels really good,” she says.
Two years before becoming a member of India’s U19 World Cup squad, Shweta had a poster in her room that read, “World Cup Champion!”. Asked about her latest poster, her leader-like clarity strikes again. “There’s a poster, but it’s on my phone. It’s a poster about the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India, the aim to play in that tournament.”
While WPL 2023 didn’t result in a bucket full of runs for her, Shweta gained crucial knowledge on how to overcome her shyness and become a more effective communicator. “I am a bit of a shy nature, so in the first season of WPL, it became a little difficult for me to communicate initially.”
“I wasn’t opening up about talks around the game and I learnt from WPL 2023 that how to initiate that communication, put forward your thoughts and express yourself in such a way that you get the solution you are looking for. I got a lot of help in terms of communication and in cricketing terms, I learnt a lot of new things from the players as well as Jon (Lewis, head coach) sir and Ashley (Noffke, bowling coach).”
Whenever she opened the batting in the yellow and purple jersey of the Warriorz, Shweta partnered with Australia skipper Alyssa Healy at the top. “I didn’t talk much with her, but then I used to see a lot of her batting at the nets and there were some shots coming off her bat which I was seeing constantly. I used to stand behind her when she was practising her batting and would observe how she would be inventive in her strokeplay,” she recalls.
Shweta also learned how to prepare for matches and the game-related scenarios from her time with the Warriorz. “Our practice sessions are very specific, like we are given different match-related situations.”
“Thing is, if we get solutions of tacking those game-related situations in practice and handle the pressure associated with it, then it becomes easier to get to grips about it when that happens in an actual match. Through this, we become aware about facing situations like that in the match and how to react to it.”
Shweta comes into WPL 2024 on the back of a stellar run in the recent domestic cricket season for Delhi. Armed with an ability to pick gaps with ease and play shots all around the park, Shweta was 11th in the run-scorers list of senior women’s T20 trophy with 229 runs in six innings at an average of 45.80 and a strike-rate of 122.45, including hitting two fifties.
In the senior women’s one-day trophy, Shweta was the tournament’s top run-scorer with 462 runs in eight innings at an average of 66 and strike-rate of 110.79, smashing two fifties and a jaw-dropping 242 against Nagaland at the MECON Ground in Ranchi.
In between, she bagged the Most Promising Athlete of the Year award by GoSports Foundation, who support her and 12 other cricketers, including Titas Sadhu and Kashvee Gautam, through the Equal Hue Cricket Excellence Programme.
“My batting approach is generally attacking. If I get a ball to hit early on, I will hit that ball hard for a boundary and I don’t hesitate in doing that. The most special thing about that knock was that people generally think that teams like that are a bit light to play against. But I feel that no team is to be taken lightly in the domestic season.”
“The best thing about that knock was I played in such a manner that I didn’t give them any chance to get me out in any way. Apart from that, the other most-liked aspect of that knock for me was batting for a long duration and remaining focused all the time,” recalls Shweta.
Mandeep Kaur, Delhi’s fielding coach, was one of the few fortunate persons at the ground to see Shweta’s astonishing 242, laced with 31 fours and seven sixes. “It was extraordinary; she was very dominating, very confident, it was a totally different knock from her bat.”
“From the very first ball, she looked to score and was hitting at every ball coming her way. In cricket we say, ‘once you get the chance, just score on and on’, she played that kind of knock that day. It was a special knock to witness since it was a chanceless one,” she said to IANS.
Shweta credits her improved fitness during the domestic season for her impressive performances. “I did a lot of ground work and gym-related activities this time for a longer duration, due to which my endurance and speed levels have increased.”
To improve herself as a batter, Shweta watches countless batting videos of Ellyse Perry and Danni Wyatt, who is now part of her team at Warriorz. “I really like Danni’s shots over covers, which look very amazing. I really adore Perry’s consistency and how in every match she remains so focused to put up consistent performances. Plus her fielding skills are a big plus point.”
Asked if she’s met Danni yet to learn about the art of her shots over covers, Shweta bursts into a laugh and says, “With Danni now in my team, I will definitely ask her about how she plays those shots over covers. I had just met her by the pool side, but I didn’t have the courage to go and talk to her, so I haven’t met her yet. I just hope to meet and speak to her in the coming days.”
Shweta, also an English honors student, appreciates the role of family, friends, and coaches in maintaining a balance between cricket and studies. “Initially it was tough, as I attended only last seven days of the NCA camp (for the U19 team) due to Board exams.”
“But then I put in good performances, including hitting a century and people there saw potential in me, so they took me in the team. As of now, my studies are online, so the slots are adjusted online as per the timings. For me, reaching here at this stage, the environment back home matters a lot.”
Playing for the Warriorz in WPL 2023 allowed Shweta to get a glimpse towards being flexible with her batting position based on the team’s needs. With her coach Dipti Dhyani’s advice, she is eager to give it her all in the upcoming season. “It depends on team combination and as per what the team’s needs are with regards to my batting position. I always look to be at my best and contribute for the team wherever possible which goes in a positive way.”
“Wherever I bat or play matches, whether it’s WPL or domestic cricket, the intention has always been to perform to the best of abilities and make the team win, after that, its upto the selectors. The best advice I got from Dipti mam was ‘one should always follow their routines and, irrespective of what the result is, give your 100% to anything you set out to do’.”
According to Shweta, playing in her hometown of Delhi during the second half of WPL 2024 will be a lot of fun. “When I played in front of a packed crowd in WPL 2023, I was very nervous. But I will be fine this time. It will be a lot of fun when the WPL matches will happen in Delhi, as all my family members will come and enjoy a lot.”
Mandeep first spotted Shweta in the Delhi senior team during the domestic season hit by Covid-19. The sight of her scoring a century in a match convinced Mandeep that the youngster is bound for greatness. “She’s a great fielder too; she mostly fields at mid-on, but is capable of fielding anywhere in outfield and infield.”
“Shweta’s form has been really good as an opener. She’s a very good and formidable player who doesn’t play slow on the wicket and maintains her strike-rate well. So I wish to see her continue in the same vein in the WPL, like she did for Delhi in the domestic season, so that she can reach greater heights in women’s cricket.”
–IANS
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Bengaluru, Aug 22 (IANS) Shivamogga Lions’ woes continued as they suffered a 28-run defeat to the Mysore Warriors in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
Mysore Warriors delivered a well-rounded performance, anchored by Karun Nair’s (45) swift knock, supported by a few other good contributions in the middle order, and highlighted by late-innings fireworks from J Suchith (22*) and Manoj Bhandage (23).
On the bowling front, Vidyadhar Patil (3/29) and Karthik CA (3/31) played crucial roles in restricting the Shivamogga Lions. Sharath HS’ (4/29) lethal spell with the ball and valiant efforts from Abhinav Manohar (46) and Nihal Ullal (46) with the bat couldn’t turn the tide in Shivamogga’s favour.
Chasing 180, Shivamogga Lions got off to a disastrous start, with Vidyadhar Patil’s lethal first over leading to the dismissals of Mohith Bangalore (2) and Dheeraj Mohan (0) in consecutive deliveries. Skipper Nihal Ullal (46) managed to crack a few early boundaries, but Hardik Raj (17) was also removed by Krishnappa Gowtham, leaving the Lions reeling at 41/3 by the end of the powerplay.
K Gowtham then engineered the run out of Rohan Naveen (11), further denting the chase. The in-form Abhinav Manohar (Impact Player) joined Ullal, and the duo breathed life into the innings, putting together a 70-run partnership in just 43 balls.
However, Ullal fell short of his first half-century of the season, leaving the Shivamogga Lions at 123/5 in 15.1 overs. Manohar also narrowly missed his milestone, holing out to K Gowtham off Karthik CA. Manohar’s 26-ball knock included four sixes and three fours, adding valuable runs to the total.
Karthik CA struck again two deliveries later, dismissing Shivraj S and leaving the Lions in deep trouble. With 47 runs needed from the final 18 balls, Ashok D tried to keep the chase alive by smashing a six and a four off Vidyadhar Patil, but perished in the same over, effectively ending Shivamogga’s prospects. Shivamogga Lions finished at 151/9 in 20 overs, enduring their sixth consecutive loss.
Batting first, Mysore Warriors faced an early challenge as Sharath HS unleashed a menacing spell. He struck in the powerplay, dismissing Karthik SU (8), and then returned in the seventh over to remove CA Karthik (30), who smashed three sixes in a 34-run stand with Karun Nair (45) and Harshil Dharmani (0).
Nair continued in fine touch and peppered the boundary with six fours and two sixes during his 23-ball stay before falling to Ashok D in the 11th over.
Kishan Bedare (17) steered the innings, forming a 28-run partnership with Nair and adding another 29 runs with Sumit Kumar (28) before being caught and bowled by Bharath Dhuri, leaving the Warriors at 116/5 in 16.1 overs. The depth of Mysore’s batting lineup came to the fore as Manoj Bhandage and J Suchith launched a late assault.
Vasuki Koushik, tasked with the 18th over, began with a six and a four from Sumit Kumar. Bhandage then took charge, hammering three consecutive sixes off Koushik in the same over before falling as Sharath’s fourth wicket in the 19th ending a blistering 23-run cameo off just seven balls. J Suchith, carried on the momentum, smashing two sixes and a four in an 8-ball flurry, pushing the Mysore Warriors to a competitive 179/7 in their 20 overs.
Brief scores: Mysore Warriors 179 for 7 in 20 overs (Karthik CA 30, Karun Nair 45, Sumit Kumar 28; Sharath HS 4-29) beat Shivamogga Lions 151/9 in 20 overs (Nihal Ullal 46, Abhinav Manohar 46 runs; Vidyadhar Patil 3-29, Karthik CA 3-31) by 28 runs.
–IANS
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Castle Rock (Colorado), Aug 22 (IANS) Indian Americans Sahith Theegala and Akshay Bhatia who failed to make it to the Top-10 last week at the St Jude Championships, the first of the three Play-offs events, will be looking for a better showing as they move towards the finale at the Tour Championships after that.
Last week Hideki Matsuyama, after leading by five at one time, had to birdie the last two holes to win the St Jude Championships. He became the first Asian to win a Play-off event and it was his 10th PGA Tour win, the highest from the continent.
Last week Bhatia was T-12, Rai was T-16 and Theegala was way behind in T-46, but all three have entered the second of the three Play-offs events.
World No, 2 Xander Schauffele, a two-time Major winner in 2024, was tied second last week with Viktor Hovland, while World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was fourth last week, though World No. 3 Rory McIlroy had a poor week in T-68 place.
Among Asians Korea’s Si Woo Kim has all to play for at the BMW Championship, the second of three FedExCup Playoffs events, in Colorado this week, with two big goals providing the drive for him to step up his game.
The four-time PGA TOUR winner tees up at Castle Pines Golf Club with the intention of breaking into the top-30 of the FedExCup points list and qualify for the Playoffs Finale, the TOUR Championship next week. Kim is presently ranked 44th after last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship.
A strong week is also required for Kim to keep alive his hopes of earning a spot in the International Team to face the U.S. Team in the Presidents Cup in Royal Montreal next month. Currently 14th on the team roster, the top-6 after this week’s BMW Championship will secure automatic spots, with captain Mike Weir naming six more picks after the TOUR Championship.
Compatriots Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An, who are 10th and 15th respectively on the FedExCup rankings, are virtually assured of teeing up at the TOUR Championship, which will use a staggered-scoring format based on positions after this week.
Irrespective of how his week plays out, Kim is pleased to secure his top-50 status, which guarantees starts in all eight Signature tournaments next season.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The packed schedule of men’s county cricket in 2025 will remain largely unchanged, despite concerns raised by the majority of players over the impact on their physical well-being.
According to a survey conducted by the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) earlier this season, more than 80 per cent of players expressed fears that the current schedule is too demanding and poses risks to their health.
However, despite these concerns, the 2025 schedule is set to continue as usual. Each county will still compete in a minimum of 14 County Championship matches, eight Metro Bank Cup fixtures, and 14 Vitality T20 Blast games. The changes for next season will be largely cosmetic, offering little relief for players concerned about the gruelling calendar.
The PCA has been advocating for adjustments that would spread out the T20 fixtures across the week, aiming to reduce tight turnarounds and introduce more consistent three-day breaks between Championship games.
“There’s definitely room for improvement in 2025 compared to 2024,” said Daryl Mitchell, the PCA’s interim chief executive, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo. “The schedule can definitely be managed better. Certainly, the Blast was very much looked at through a commercial lens, trying to squeeze as many games as possible into Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Utilizing the majority of the week is probably the way forward, trying to spread them out to give that time for recovery, travel, and preparation.”
The T20 Blast, in particular, has been the main point of debate when it comes to scheduling. The timing of the knockout stages has been a significant concern. In 2023, these stages were held immediately after the group matches in July, allowing counties to retain their overseas players. This year, however, the knockout stages will be pushed to September, giving clubs an extended six-week window to market and sell tickets for home quarter-finals.
While these adjustments offer slight improvements, the overall schedule remains packed, leaving many players apprehensive about how much more they can push themselves physically in the long term. Despite the calls for change, it appears that any significant reduction in the number of fixtures is unlikely in the future, with commercial considerations still driving much of the decision-making process around county cricket.
–IANS
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New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) After ending his T20I career with an elusive T20 World Cup title in Barbados, captain Rohit Sharma revealed that it was his dream to transform the team without thinking too much about the results.
Rohit-led Indian team ended the decade-long ICC title drought after beating South Africa in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024 to lift their second title in the format. In 2023, the Men in Blue failed to win the World Test Championship and 2023 ODI World Cup under Rohit’s leadership after losing to Australia in the finals.
The swashbuckling opening batter also credited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, former head coach Rahul Dravid and chief selector Ajit Agarkar for their support in transforming the team and creating a fearless culture in the squad.
“It was my dream to transform this team and not worry too much about stats and results and also to make sure that we create an environment where people can go out and play freely, without thinking too much. I got a lot of help from my three pillars Jay Shah, Rahul Dravid and chairman of selector Ajit Agarkar. That was critical for me to do what I did. Obviously, not to forget players who came in at different points in time and helped the team to achieve what we have achieved today,” Rohit said in a video posted by BCCI on X.
On Wednesday, Rohit was awarded ‘Men’s International Cricketer of the Year’ while Dravid was accorded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at Ceat Cricket Rating Awards 2023-24 in Mumbai. India’s batting stalwart Virat Kohli was named the ‘Men’s ODI Batter of the Year’ while on the bowling front, Mohammed Shami was awarded the ‘ODI Bowler of the Year’.
The 37-year-old batter finished as the second-highest run-getter in the T20 World Cup with 257 runs including three half-centuries and at a strike rate of 156.70. He played a major role in providing solid starts for the team on the slow pitches of the USA and the West Indies.
After lifting the title, Rohit joined Kohli to announce his retirement from the T20I. With 4,231 runs, Rohit is the leading run-getter in the format behind his teammate Kohli (4188 runs). Both batters will continue to play the other formats of the game. The duo last featured for India in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this month.
–IANS
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Gotemba (Japan), Aug 22 (IANS) A year after being the youngest ever to make the cut at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Kartik Singh, now 14 years of age, is the highest ranked among the four Indians set to take part in the 15th AAC to be held in Japan.
As of date Kartik is the highest ranked Indian at 199 while the other three players to have received the invitation for this prestigious event are Krishnav Nikhil Chopra and Vedant Sirohi, both past participants in the event and Rakshit Dahiya will be in the four-player team.
Kartik Singh has also been named to the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup team. A regular winner in junior and amateur events, Kartik will spearhead the Indian challenge.
Apart from India’s Kartik Singh, there are seven others named to the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup International Team. They are Joshua Bai, Warut Boonrod, Xihuan Chang, Rayhan Latief, Khanh Hung Le, Thangwin Lee, Anh Minh Ngyuyen,
As many as 113 players have been confirmed for the Championship, which will be held October 3-6, 2024, at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba in Gotemba, Japan. A full list of confirmed players can be found. The field will be 120 with a few more names to be added by the Organisers.
India’s best ever placing has been second place by Rayhan Thomas, who was runner-up in Sentosa, Singapore in 2018. The Dubai-based Indian Rayhan has since turned professional, and last week won his first pro title on India’s Professional Tour of India Tour.
Krishnav, who plays college golf in the US, is the son of former India cricketer turned commentator, Nikhil Chopraa, who often takes the role of a caddie for his son.
Created in 2009, the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship was established by the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC), The R&A and the Masters Tournament to further develop amateur golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
The champion will receive an invitation to compete in the 2025 Masters Tournament and The 153rd Open, while the runner(s)-up will gain a place in Final Qualifying for The Open.
The confirmed list which has players from 38 APGC member organizations is highlighted by defending champion Jasper Stubbs of Australia and four players representing China inside the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking: Wenyi Ding (No. 4), Xihuan Chang (No. 36), Xiangyun Bai (No. 61) and Paul Chang (No. 97).
Ding finished runner-up to Stubbs in the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur while Xihuan Chang reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur in July.
Other top-100 participants include Vietnam’s Anh Minh Nguyen (No. 68) and Japan’s Rintaro Nakano (No. 78).
Notable past competitors include 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, a two-time winner of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, and 2022 Open champion Cameron Smith. Over the Championship’s 14-year history, the Championship has served as a springboard to some of the world’s top players, including Matsuyama, Smith, Cameron Davis, Ryan Fox, Si Woo Kim, Satoshi Kodaira, Kyoung-Hoon Lee, Min Woo Lee, Keita Nakajima and C.T. Pan. Collectively, alumni of the Asia-Pacific Amateur have gone on to win 27 tournaments on the PGA Tour to date and more than 130 across the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
As the host nation, Japan will lead the list of up to 43 APGC member nations represented with 10 players in this year’s field. A player from Japan has won four of the 14 editions of the Championship (Matsuyama/2010, 2011; Takumi Kanaya/2018; Nakajima/2021).
–IANS
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