Indian women's cricket team spinner Sneh Rana has dedicated her stunning performance on her Test debut in the ongoing one-off Test against England women in Bristol to her late father.
Rana, who lost her father two months back before she was named in the Indian women’s side for the England tour, has returned with stellar figures of 3/77 in Bristol as the hosts finished the opening day on 269/6 at stumps at Bristol County Ground.
Following her Test debut show in Bristol, Rana said her father wanted to see her again in the Indian jersey and it was unfortunate that he wasn’t there when she finally returned to play for her country and even made a stunning comeback in her very first red ball game in England.
Rana said during the press conference: “I lost my father two months back. When this team was announced, a little before that, I lost him. It was a bit difficult; it was an emotional moment because he wanted to see me play again for India. But unfortunately, he can't. It's okay, it is part of life, but whatever I did after that and whatever I will do now, and I will dedicate everything to him.”
England Women’s team lost four wickets for just 21 runs in seven overs in the final session and the spinner said the Bristol pitch was a bit slow in the early stages, but it offered turn right from the beginning and that really helped the tourists.
She said, “The pitch was a little slow at the early stage, but it helped the spinners because it was turning a bit from starting only. It's a really good wicket to bat on. I think it will remain the same tomorrow.”
The 27-year-old spinner also revealed that she got to know about her debut in the team meeting before the one-off Test in England, saying the red-ball format is different from T20Is and ODIs.
She added, “In the practice sessions, we used to speak to the captain (Mithali Raj) and coach (Ramesh Powar), on what to do, how to bowl, what needs to be done. I was playing for the first time in a Test, where the scenario is a bit different from one-days and T20s, so we used to speak daily about it.”
Rana, who dismissed Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, and Georgia Elwiss, said of her plans against England batters: “Those who observe from the outside know better. He did not put any pressure but said that bowl to strength and follow the basics. So, I did not do anything extra on that ball (on which I got my first wicket), I just tried bowling to my strengths and it worked out.”
On her comeback to the Indian team after five years, the all-rounder credited her performances in the domestic circuit, saying no one should give up, and hopes her comeback can inspire a few people.
The off-spinner continued, “Actually, I suffered from an injury, due to which I was away from cricket for a year, but I have constantly played domestic (cricket) after that, and on the basis of that performance, I made a comeback to the Indian team after five years.”
She signed off by saying, “Many people think we cannot make a comeback or making a comeback in international (cricket) is difficult, especially in women's cricket. So I feel because of me some people would have been inspired and we should not give up.”
(With PTI Inputs)
