U19 WC: Introducing Ishwari Awasare, Motivated by Tendulkar's Words, Aspiring to Play for India

New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) Moreshwar Rao Awasare clearly remembers the moment that marked the start of his daughter Ishwari’s remarkable cricketing journey. It was back in November 2018 when the Sachin Tendulkar Middlesex Global Academy conducted a camp at Bishop School in Pune.

With cricket legends like Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli present, young boys and girls aged 7-18 were given a chance to improve their cricketing skills. Observing many girls from Maharashtra attending the camp, Moreshwar decided to send Ishwari as well.

One day, Tendulkar noticed Ishwari’s right-handed batting and called her over. “The interesting part was that she didn’t recognize him. At just 8.5 years, she was too young to fully understand who he was. But Sachin observed her closely and later asked, ‘who advised you to change your stance?’

“She simply stood and played her shots, but Sachin told her, ‘Just mention my name and tell everyone that you won’t be altering your stance’. That was extremely motivating for us, as she later came to us and said ‘Sir spent 10 minutes with me’.

“Following that significant day, all family members rallied around her, motivating her to continue her cricketing journey,” Moreshwar shared in an exclusive interview with IANS.

Fast forward six years and two months, Ishwari is now gearing up to represent India in the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, starting on January 18 in Malaysia. For Ishwari, participating in this tournament realizes a long-held dream of representing India.

“As a childhood dream is on the brink of coming true, I feel immense pride in being selected for the U19 World Cup. We are entering the tournament with considerable confidence. Our team performed well in the Asia Cup, showing significant improvement, and our coaching staff is backing us, instilling trust in us to win the World Cup. Whenever I feel anxious, I approach the coaches for support and guidance,” Ishwari expressed to IANS before embarking on her World Cup journey.

Cricket is embedded within the roots of the Awasare family. Moreshwar, employed in the defense sector, played cricket at local and industrial levels and captained his office team during internal tournaments. Although Moreshwar’s elder son played cricket for several years, he made him stop when he reached tenth grade.

In India, the tenth grade holds immense significance as it influences students’ future careers and academic paths. Before officially deciding to halt his son’s cricket journey at the Divekar Cricket Academy in 2017, Ishwari accompanied Moreshwar one day, where coach Sunil Divekar noticed her talent.

Around the same period, cricketing icons like Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana gained prominence as India’s impressive run in the 2017 ODI World Cup ended as runners-up at Lord’s, garnering newfound attention for women’s cricket in the country.

“At the academy, the coach asked, ‘What is she doing?’ I replied, ‘Nothing, sir. She is in second grade’. The coach suggested, ‘Let’s see what she can do’. We allowed her to try in the nets, where he provided her a small bat and said, ‘Play as you wish, just focus on hitting the ball’.

“Although she was small then, her power and ability to hit were impressive. The coach encouraged us, saying, ‘Let her stay at the academy, and we’ll assess her progress in a month’. Within a month or two, her skills improved significantly, including playing with a straight bat. Due to her school schedule, we sent her to the academy on weekends. Once she started excelling, the coach waived her tuition fees for two years,” Moreshwar recounted.

While Ishwari initially enjoyed bowling, she soon developed a preference for batting. Divekar’s focus on enhancing her batting abilities led her to admire the techniques of Smriti and Virat Kohli. The brief encounter with Tendulkar in 2018 further solidified his position among her batting role models.

“Initially, my father and brother would express concerns about me being the only girl on the team and how it would work with everyone playing together in eleven. However, once I became established in the game, those worries dissipated. I enjoy playing the flick shot and love hitting the ball over the bowler’s head,” Ishwari added.

After that memorable meeting with Tendulkar, Ishwari’s domestic cricket career took off as she played for Maharashtra in the U15 women’s one-day trophy, where she formed a close friendship with fellow India U19 teammate Bhavika Ahire.

“Our friendship is strong. We communicate openly about the sport and support each other, especially when nerves arise. We also share tips on the field,” Ishwari mentioned.

However, it was during the 2023/24 season that Ishwari truly emerged, becoming the leading run-scorer in the Women’s U19 one-day trophy, amassing 481 runs in eight matches, with an average of 80.17 and a strike rate of 92.5.

In the same season, she scored 325 runs in eight matches at an average of 40.63 and a strike rate of 123.57. This performance caught the attention of national selectors, leading her to attend a U19 high-performance camp. Ishwari then excelled as the top run-scorer with 327 runs in eight matches of the U19 T20 Trophy, boasting an average of 46.71 and a strike rate of 113.93.

Ishwari, who also bowls effective leg-spin, attributes her confidence and performance enhancement to the support she received from the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) selectors, who provided her with opportunities to play in U23 and senior teams. Moreshwar elaborated on how the state body and the BCCI assisted his daughter during her recovery from injuries.

“In the past three years, she has consistently excelled in scoring runs, despite facing three injuries. She fractured her finger once and suffered a ligament tear before the Challenger Trophy. The BCCI was incredibly supportive, providing a comprehensive recovery plan. The BCCI physio checked on her progress daily, and both the MCA and BCCI offered their unwavering support during her recovery,” Moreshwar explained.

While Ishwari’s batting contributions were minimal during the inaugural U19 Women’s Asia Cup victory, her spectacular catch of Fahomida Choya in the final in Kuala Lumpur captivated fans; she made an exceptional grab after sprinting to her left from deep mid-wicket.

“I initially thought the catch was unattainable. But as I approached, I realized it was within reach, regardless of the outcome. I went all out to secure the catch, and the feeling upon accomplishing it was fantastic,” she recounted.

Later that month, Ishwari executed a remarkable direct-hit to run out the well-set Jhansi Lakshmi during the quarter-final of the Senior Women’s One-day Trophy in Rajkot. She credits her impressive fielding skills to the relentless focus of the Maharashtra coaches on addressing any weaknesses in that area.

Over the past year, Ishwari, a tenth grader, has been on the move constantly, spending only ten days at home, according to Moreshwar. He struggled to obtain approval for her cricket leaves from school but ultimately persuaded the authorities after numerous requests.

In the Awasare household, cricket is the primary topic of discussion, with Ishwari actively sharing her insights on both men’s and women’s matches. Ishwari’s upbringing was significantly influenced by Moreshwar’s unwavering emphasis on the importance of the national flag, instilling in her a deep desire to represent her country through cricket.

As Ishwari prepares to help India defend their title against the West Indies on January 19, Moreshwar will experience immense pride and joy as he watches his daughter represent India on a global stage.

“Every player aspires to wear the Indian flag, and we all rise when the National Anthem plays. Speaking to you made me realize how monumental it is to play for the Indian flag. While she participated in the Asia Cup, everyone at home recognized that she was representing her country and its flag—an indescribable feeling that evokes a unique emotion,” Moreshwar remarked.

“Witnessing her play for India means the world to her, to me, and to our entire family. Everyone in our family and circle of friends dreamed of seeing her play for India one day. Now that dream is turning into reality, there’s a joyous atmosphere at home as she prepares for the World Cup,” Moreshwar concluded.