Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) young all-rounder Kanika Ahuja opened up about Virat Kohli’s motivational and morale-boosting words that helped her during her match-winning knock against UP Warriors in the 13th match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL 2023).
The 20-year-old Kanika played a memorable knock of 46 runs off 30 balls laced with sixes and eight boundaries to help RCB beat UP Warriors by 5 wickets to register their first win in the ongoing WPL 2023 following their five straight losses in the tournament.
Notably, Kohli had a pep talk with the RCB women's team ahead of their last game, and his speech did magic, as they bounced back in style after their woeful start to their campaign in the WPL 2023.
Kanika Ahuja said in her first-ever press conference: “Virat sir told us there is nothing about pressure here, it is all about the pleasure. He told us to not put ourselves under pressure when we are out there in the middle. He said it is a matter of pleasure that we are getting to play here, not everyone gets a similar opportunity.”
Speaking about her 60-run stand with Richa Ghosh (30*), the youngster said: “The thing I had in my mind was that come whatever may, we have to win. The target was also low, hence there was time for us to take our time and play accordingly. We waited for loose balls to capitalise.”
Ahuja revealed that her mother was the driving force behind her becoming a cricketer, as she dedicated her match-winning knock to her mother, who has been ill.
She signed off by saying, “I used to mainly go because my mother would tell me to go out and play and not trouble her at home. If I was at home, I would fly kites on the roof so she would push me to go out and play. My family didn't even know that there is cricket for girls. My father told me to focus on my studies as there is nothing in cricket, but my mother would say go and play.”
(With India Today Inputs)
