Exclusive Interview: “The player I have seen and grown is MS Dhoni” – Sneh Rana talks about her cricketing journey, comebacks, inspiration and much more

Sneh Rana, an illustrious all-rounder hailing from the picturesque town of Uttarakhand, has emerged as a formidable force in the realm of women’s cricket. Born on February 18, 1994, she has captivated audiences with her exceptional prowess as a right-handed batter and off-spin bowler. Rana’s cricketing odyssey is a tapestry woven with remarkable comebacks, stellar performances, and an indomitable spirit that exemplifies the essence of perseverance.

In an exclusive and revealing conversation with Cricket Times, Rana delves into the intricacies of her journey, sharing insights that illuminate both the triumphs and tribulations she has encountered along the way. With refreshing candor, she reflects on the relentless challenges of maintaining peak fitness as a female athlete in a demanding sport. Her narrative is not just one of personal achievement; it serves as an inspiring testament to the dedication and resilience required to thrive in a competitive landscape.

As she recounts her experiences, from pivotal matches to the daily grind of training, Rana emerges not only as a talented cricketer but also as a role model for aspiring athletes. Her story resonates deeply within the cricketing community and beyond, inspiring countless individuals to pursue their passions with unwavering determination.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Q. Coming from Uttarakhand, how did your cricketing journey begin?

Rana: Yeah, so I started very young, I loved playing cricket and used to go and play with the boys, our school used to have tennis ball cricket matches where I used to participate adamantly. Therefore, I started like every other India cricketer playing on the streets, and that’s that, a start.

Q. How did you overcome your injury break and what helped you stage a comeback?

Rana: See, any player with an injury always has a risk factor involved, and about the time that when will you are likely to make a comeback. But keeping all things aside, I am really grateful to my family who supported me at that time. Talking about the injury, first three months were really difficult being on a bed rest for three straight months missing out on the game and involvement with it. I was very positive with the support of my family and friends that everything will eventually fall into place.

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Q. What do you think are some of the biggest hurdles female cricketers face today?

Rana: See when we talk about men’s cricket and women’s cricket, women’s cricket is a bit more challenging for female cricketers, as we all know there’s a menstrual cycle that comes into the picture, where women need to deal with various issues suck as cramps, mood swings etc. Cricket as a game now has been in limelight but it wasn’t that popular before, but speaking about difficulties, girls faced many hurdles earlier which women went through to make a name in this game. Yes, there are many more problems but I am sure we all will eventually able to make it through with a strong mindset.

Q. Who or what inspired you to take up cricket as a professional sport?

Rana: I started cricket as a fun activity and took this sport as a fun venture, later on when I got good at it, people’s appreciations and media coverage for the sport did help me to take this up as a professional sport. Earlier at my time when I was just starting there were only two names Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami which eventually also leaned me towards the sport. Speaking about inspiration I would really like to say the player, I have seen and grown is MS Dhoni, on field and off the field he has been an inspiration and learning to how to handle a tough situation.

Q. What qualities are essential for someone to become a successful cricketer?

Rana: The first and foremost thing is discipline, the more disciplined you are the more heights you will achieve, second is your behaviour, how you are talking to people to everyone, this is something which gets counted in terms of being successful, and the last is your attitude, how you are taking up the results, because sports is something that has many ups and lows which indeed tests a character of the player. A player needs to have a never dying attitude but for me if you ask, discipline is the most important trait a player should have.

Here’s the full interview:

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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January 07, 2025 at 09:15AM