18th September, Thursday: Arundhati Reddy is a right-arm medium-fast-paced bowler of Indian women’s national cricket team. Her journey in cricketing career is a tale comprising determination and discipline.
Arundhati was born on October 4, 1997, in Hyderabad, Telangana, where her inclination towards fast bowling grew. With her family’s support and guidance from Hyderabad domestic system, Reddy honed as a right-arm seamer famous for her accuracy, control and the ability to swing the ball. This ability made her scarce as one of few Indian women trusted with new ball at international level.
Her climb up the ranks was not an overnight sensation. Playing for Hyderabad until the 2016-17 season and subsequently joining the radiant tracking side, Reddy established herself through solid domestic showings. Her sheer hard work and dedication impressed the selectors, and she found herself a part of India's next-generation squads.
The breakthrough came in 2018, when she debuted in T20I against Sri Lanka, starting off her journey in the blue jersey. In the years that followed, she emerged as a consistent new-ball choice in India's T20I ranks.
The introduction of the Women's Premier League in 2023 provided her with another platform to celebrate showcase her talent. Wearing the color of Delhi Capitals, Reddy established herself as a dependable seamer in the team, taking 14 wickets from 17 innings, a best of 2/27 among them. Her experience at the franchise and domestic levels brought her much-hyped ODI debut in June 2024 against South Africa.
It did not take her long to leave her mark. Within nine ODIs, she has already taken 11 wickets, topped by a game-changing spell of 4/26 against Australia in their own den, where she got rid of Phoebe Litchfield, Georgia Voll, Ellyse Perry, and Beth Mooney, Australia's powerhouse top order.
Apart from the numbers, Reddy is the pulse of India's pace attack. Her gusto on the pitch, readiness to warp her back for game-changers, and intent-driven aggression provide balance to a spin-dominated bowling attack. As India approaches the 2025 Women's World Cup, Reddy now as a member of the senior pace group exudes the attributes of determination and accountability. For a country historically characterized by its spinners, her inclusion marks a strong, new era in Indian women's cricket.
