Sakshi Rao’s bowling transformation fuels India dream

Sakshi Rao’s switch from medium pace to off-spin and eventually left-arm spin has shaped her cricketing journey. After impressive spells for Hyderabad, including six for 13 in the 2024 BCCI Under-23 Trophy, she now hopes to push for higher honours

Hyderabad: Changing from a medium-pacer to an off-spinner and then settling down as a left-arm spinner was never easy for any bowler.

But Sakshi Rao did it with remarkable ease to leave a huge impact on the Hyderabad team. And when she features in the senior probables’ matches for the forthcoming BCCI Senior Women’s T20 Cricket Championship, she is, not surprisingly, determined to make another lasting impression with her performances on the field.

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Interestingly, Sakshi got inspired to take up cricket after watching, apparently in huge disappointment, India lose the 2017 Women’s World Cup final in England.

“That was when I told my dad to put me in cricket. I started off at Daniel’s Cricket Academy when I was 14 and then, after a few months, moved over to City Cricket Academy in Upparapally, where my coach-cum-mentor, Mohd Ahmed sir, has been guiding me,” she said in a chat with Telangana Today.

One of the high points of Sakshi’s career was her spell of six for 13 in 9.1 overs against Meghalaya in the 2024 BCCI Women’s Under-23 Trophy at Mulapadu.

For someone who looks back with pride at her four for 42 against the formidable Mumbai side in the 2024 BCCI Senior One-Day Tournament in Ahmedabad, when she dismissed the top-order batters, Sakshi, like many others, is dreaming of playing for India.

“Obviously, playing in ICC events is the ultimate goal. I know it is not going to be easy, but I am confident of making it,” she said.

Sakshi believes that her strong points, besides her bowling, are her batting and fielding. “I enjoy every aspect of the game. Currently, I’m practising at Ramanaidu Cricket Academy under the supervision of head coach Chamundi sir,” she said with a big smile.

Was it difficult to switch over to left-arm spin?

“It was a great challenge. Initially, I found the ball to be coming off the pitch very slowly. I had to really work hard and improve, and I am grateful to Syed Noor sir in Bengaluru, who runs an academy there. Whatever progress I have made, it is because of him,” said the grateful cricketer.

Sakshi, a BA final-year student of Dr BR Ambedkar College in the city, has been playing for Hyderabad consistently for both the Under-23 and senior teams. With this year being her last in the former age group, she is keen to give her best this season and make it really big.

Well, this spirited cricketer can well be the future star if she translates her immense potential into consistency over the next few weeks.