Chennai: Meet Kamalini Gunalan, a talented 17-year-old cricketer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu. She’s making headlines as she joins the Indian women’s cricket team for the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka. This series will run from December 21 to 30 in Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Kamalini got interested in cricket at age 12. Her father, Gunalan, noticed her passion and enrolled her in a cricket academy. They even moved to Chennai to support her training. She trained at the Chennai Super Kings Academy and excelled as an opening batsman and wicketkeeper in local matches.
In 2021, Kamalini took the spotlight by scoring 485 runs in the Under-15 Asian-level cricket series. This achievement made her the top run-scorer of the tournament. Following this success, she played in U19 T20 matches, impressing fans and selectors alike.
Her hard work paid off when she was selected to play for the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League. So far, she has played nine matches. And last February, she contributed to the Indian team’s victory in the U19 T20 World Cup.
Recently, in the U-23 T20 series, Kamalini stood out as one of Tamil Nadu’s top run scorers, earning her spot on the national team. “I’m thrilled to be part of the T20 team against Sri Lanka,” she shared. “My hard work over the last five years has finally paid off. The U-23 matches helped me showcase my abilities.”
Kamalini believes playing with seasoned players will be a fantastic opportunity for growth. Her mantra is simple: hard work and discipline are key. “Talent is what counts the most, regardless of where you come from,” she stated. She recalls starting her journey as a bowler but later transitioned to wicketkeeping and batting, saying, “I enjoy batting and want to learn wicket-keeping like Dhoni.”
Her father shares her joy. He expressed that her selection brings immeasurable happiness and credits the Tamil Nadu government for their support, including a substantial scholarship. “We always hoped for this, but it happened so quickly,” he said, still in awe of her achievement.
Kamalini’s journey shines a light on the dedication and potential in Indian women’s cricket. With support and talent, young athletes like her are becoming role models for future generations.
For more on the rise of women in cricket, explore this report on women’s cricket.
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T20 MATCH, KAMALINI GUNALAN, TAMIL NADU, TAMIL CRICKETER IN T20 INDIA TEAM, YOUNG TAMIL NADU CRICKETER KAMALINI GUNALAN EARNS INDIA T20 CALL-UP
