Young & aspiring cricketer Katta Srivalli of Karimnagar set to leave her mark in Indian women cricket
NEWS CHARIOT, (Karimnagar, Dec.9) : A-17-years-old girl Katta Srivalli from Karimnagar town who chose cricket as her career was on a cloud nine when she learnt that she had been selected in the state team to play against senior women Indian one-day Cricket team from Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) that was held recently in Ahmedabad of Gujarat state.
Srivalli is the younger daughter of a government teacher Katta Lakshma Reddy and Umarani who resides at Sripuram colony in Karimnagar. His elder daughter Jigeesha is a software employee working in London. Wife Umarani runs a beauty parlour in the city.
She showed her interest towards playing cricket when she was nine-years-old. Her immense love for cricket and encouragement given by her father Lakshma Reddy made her choose cricket as her career.
Srivalli’s father Lakshma Reddy speaking to Deccan Chronicle said that her cricket journey started when she was studying 5th class. She approached some boys of her age group after watching them play cricket in their school grounds. She asked the boys to let her play cricket along with them, but when the boys refused and made fun of her, she went to the physical education teacher (PET) and with his permission joined the boys to play cricket and never looked back.
The PET of the school Rahim was shocked to see Srivalli’s fast bowling and her passion towards cricket. He then gave special training to Srivalli to correct her bowling action and to use variations of controlling speed while bowling. Admired by her interest towards cricket, teachers also encouraged Srivalli by allowing her to practice the game in extra hours.
But Srivalli never neglected her studies, practicing the whole day she used to study during night hours and successfully completed her 10th with 87 percent of marks. She then decided to join open inter and opted HEC to give more time in practicing cricket instead of opting for regular intermediate courses, he added.
Karimnagar Cricket Association President and Secretary Agam Rao and Muralidhar Rao congratulated Srivalli for being selected for the state-level Seniors One-Day Cricket (HCA) team from Karimnagar district.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle they expressed happiness and said that Srivalli has natural talent. In the training camp that was held in Hyderabad, she stood as highest wicket taker with her fast bowling. It is rare to see a girl bowling with a speed of 110 kilometers per hour.
In 2019, she showed talent in the National Level Schools Sports Federation competitions held in Kanduva, Madhya Pradesh. In 2022, she played for the Hyderabad Cricket Association Under-19 girls’ team in the competitions held in Pune. Srivalli is sure to become one of the key players in the senior women cricket team in the days to come and is going to become Karimnagar pride, they added.
The Former Ranji Trophy player Kanishk Nadi who had given coaching to Srivalli speaking to Deccan Chronicle said that she joined his coaching camp in Hyderabad one and a half year back. After watching her bowling action and rhythm he understood that she had a good future ahead if she develops consistency and strength.
A fast bowler required a lot of strength to bowl the ball very fast and also to maintain the same consistency. So, she was trained to gain strength first and later made her develop her bowling skills which she learnt with ease as she was very much passionate about playing cricket.
Whenever she takes a wicket, she does not feel that much happy but asks at what speed she bowled the ball and after learning that it was the fastest ball for which she took a wicket then she feels happy.
Srivalli is 70 percent natural, I only provided 30 percent of coaching. She used to pray to the gods during the rainy season not to rain and create disturbance to her practising. Special nets were arranged to give coaching for her. She was motivated by providing some books related to cricket and how to gain and develop strength
There is a lot of scope for fast bowlers in women’s cricket. She is going to have a bright future and will become one of the big women cricket stars in Indian women cricket, he opined.
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