Inspired by Smriti & Dhoni, Bhavika Ahire Aims for U19 WC Success

New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) As the defending champions, India is geared up to enter the forthcoming U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, where expectations run high to repeat their success from the first edition held in 2023.

Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Bhavika Ahire is determined to make a mark in the U19 World Cup, especially since India recently claimed victory in the U19 Women’s Asia Cup under similar conditions last month. "I am thrilled to represent India in a World Cup for the first time. Our coaches have been incredibly supportive, instilling a lot of confidence in us before each match," she stated.

“We draw immense confidence from our Asia Cup triumph, where our team synergy was excellent, and everyone rallied behind one another. With that morale boost, we are now set on winning the World Cup,” Bhavika expressed.

“My experience from the Asia Cup has equipped me with a better understanding of the ground conditions, which I believe will be beneficial during the World Cup. Although winning the Asia Cup was a significant achievement, I am striving to improve and perform even better in the World Cup,” Bhavika shared in an exclusive chat with IANS before her departure for the crucial tournament.

Originating from Pune, Maharashtra, Bhavika’s cricket journey commenced when she engaged in tennis-ball cricket with boys in her neighborhood during childhood. In 2017, as a fourth grader, she took her first steps toward professional cricket by joining the Om Sai Cricket Academy under the guidance of coach Sanjay Hadke.

“Transitioning from tennis-ball cricket to the professional circuit required time, especially in developing a proper batting stance and mastering catches with a leather ball. Initially, I concentrated on catching and batting for a year at the academy,” she explained.

“Gradually, my coach began to include me in matches. I also started wicketkeeping alongside. It took some adjustment for me as I had previously bowled, but I found that bowling wasn’t my strong suit, so I embraced wicketkeeping and discovered my passion for it,” she added.

Bhavika, who wears glasses, looks up to the batting style of Smriti Mandhana, who also sported spectacles in her early cricketing days, and the wicketkeeping skills of M.S. Dhoni.

“As a left-handed batter, I particularly admire Smriti’s cover drive, which I enjoy playing as well. I’ve gained invaluable insights from observing Dhoni sir’s stumpings, which is my preferred method of dismissing batters. I cherish numerous memories of watching his matches and the dismissals he executed, from which I picked up many tips,” she explained.

Bhavika’s journey in domestic cricket began at the U15 level in Maharashtra, where a remarkable 115 not out in practice against Baroda led to her debut as captain-cum-keeper-batter in the inaugural age-group tournament in 2022.

On her debut against Mumbai, Bhavika scored 129 runs off 107 balls and concluded the tournament as the fourth-highest run-scorer with a total of 378 runs, trailing her now India U19 teammate G Kamalini, who topped the list with 458 runs.

In 2023, she made her Maharashtra U19 debut, but it was in the 2024/25 U19 Women’s Challenger Trophy where she caught everyone’s attention with her off-side shots, sweeps, and occasional scoops, amassing 126 runs with an average of 63 and a strike rate of 134.04 for Team D in Raipur.

Her outstanding performances in camps organized by the National Cricket Academy (NCA) earned her a spot in the India U19 ‘A’ team for the tri-series against South Africa, which ultimately led to her selection for India’s squad in the triumphant Asia Cup campaign and now the World Cup.

Bhavika also benefits from mentorship by former Indian cricketer Soniya Dabir-Tanskale, who has played four ODIs and 13 T20Is. “She has provided me with valuable guidance on how to approach playing at higher levels,” Bhavika remarked.

Soniya recalled first witnessing Bhavika’s talent in 2022 while providing personal coaching to another player. After watching Bhavika bat, Soniya was impressed by her powerful shot-making and quickly informed Hadke that she would undoubtedly play for Maharashtra’s U19 team in 2023.

In an interview with IANS, Soniya shared that her discussions with Bhavika often revolve around viewing the pressure of expectations as an opportunity to shine on the field, irrespective of her batting scores.

“When you consistently perform well, people will naturally expect more from you. I always encourage her to embrace that pressure as it presents an opportunity. The reason they have expectations is that she has set her own standards apart from others,” Soniya advised.

“I remind her that ups and downs are part of cricket. You can’t score fifty runs in every match, but when given an important chance, whether it's crucial 15 or 35 runs, if the team wins, that matters. At a higher level, such moments carry significant weight,” she emphasized.

While Soniya admits she has observed less of Bhavika’s cricket career than Hadke, she highlights Bhavika’s intelligent play and her ability to learn quickly as the key factors in her U19 World Cup selection.

“During one of our personal coaching sessions, she expressed dissatisfaction with her batting. I understood her frustration. I asked if she wanted a break, but she was eager to learn about her batting issues. Her readiness to learn and apply changes swiftly is commendable,” Soniya pointed out.

“She possesses excellent grasping power and is adept at analyzing her game. Whenever she attends camps, she frequently reaches out to me for advice, indicating her commitment to improvement,” Soniya added.

Outside of cricket, Bhavika treasures quality time with her family and enjoys hobbies like drawing, music, and dancing. She considers Ishwari Awasare, her teammate from Maharashtra and India U19, to be her best friend since U15 days.

Simultaneously, she effectively balances her 11th-grade commerce studies in Pune with her cricket aspirations, which include representing the India senior women’s team, playing in a senior World Cup, and securing a championship.

With her unwavering dedication and consistency, Bhavika is undoubtedly a player to watch as she aims to leave a lasting impact in the upcoming U19 World Cup. "Once you’re part of the U19 India team, people will be looking up to you. She has become a recognized name, especially after scoring 88 not out off 60 balls in her first Challenger Trophy match,” she noted.

“This is definitely a stepping stone towards the senior team, as selectors and senior players are aware of these promising young talents. However, there’s still a long road ahead for Bhavika, as consistent performance at the highest level is crucial for gaining recognition,” Soniya concluded.