Avinash shinde

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Gautami Naik's path to the Women's Premier League (WPL) has been rapid and challenging. The 27-year-old batting all-rounder worked through several state teams and domestic cricket hardships before achieving her dream of participating in the league by playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against UP Warriorz in Navi Mumbai on January 12.

Although Gautami didn’t get to bat or bowl in the match that RCB won, she will cherish the moments from being informed about her WPL debut to stepping onto the field for the rest of her life. "We were practicing and that's when our head coach, Malolan (Rangarajan) sir, came and told me that you are playing the next match, so get prepared accordingly. He told me about the role and everything.

“After he told me about it, I was a little shocked that I am going to play in WPL because it was my dream and everyone's dream is to play on a good platform and represent a good franchise. So, it was a wonderful feeling to know that my dream is going to be fulfilled because I have been working hard for all these things for so many years.