Bengaluru: A gawky youngster from Kadur, in the picturesque district of Chikkamagaluru, had once taken the Karnataka women’s
cricket circuit by storm. Barely a teenager, she struck the ball fearlessly, was lightning-fast on the field, backed by infectious energy.
In a state where there was once a shortfall of emerging stars among women cricketers, Veda’s arrival was a breath of fresh air.
Making her Karnataka debut at 13, she continued for the next 19 years with aplomb -- excelling both at the national and international levels.
On Friday evening, in an emotional social media post, the 32-year-old called time on her playing career.
Having turned to commentary a few years ago, Veda, who is preparing for the BCCI Level 2 coaching course, believes she still has a lot to offer to the sport.
“I believe the ‘second innings’ will be as meaningful as the ‘first’. I have a lot to offer to the sport and I’m looking forward to it,” Veda said.
“From a small-town girl with big dreams to wearing the India jersey with pride, I’m grateful for everything that cricket has given me: the lessons, the people, and the memories. It’s time to say goodbye to playing, but not to the game,” she added.
Veda will be best remembered for being a part of the turnaround generation of Indian women’s cricket, which fought its way to the title contest of the ICC Women’s World Cup against England at Lord’s in 2017.
Speaking to TOI, Veda, who hasn’t worn the India colour after the 2020 T20 World Cup final in Australia, said: “I felt the time was just right. In domestic cricket, I felt I was blocking the place of a youngster.”
Veda, who had turned out for Gujarat Giants in the second edition of the Women’s Premier League, added: “I feel the Karnataka team has the right mix of talent and experience. I’ve been mentoring the girls for the past couple of years, and I leave this side as a satisfied person.”
Veda, who featured in 48 ODIs and 76 T20Is, termed the 2017 World Cup final (50 overs) and the T20 World Cup title contest in 2020 as the key moments in her career.
“The team in these two tournaments was special. We had the fire in us to go out and make a difference. From being dark horses to almost clinching the title, we covered the distance,” she explained.
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Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here! Manuja Veerappa, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, h...
Read MoreManuja Veerappa, Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, has dedicated over half of her 22-year journalism career to the publication. Specializing in
cricket and hockey, she has covered major sporting events including World Cups, the Commonwealth Games, and world championships in billiards and snooker.
Known for her compelling human-interest stories, she has traveled extensively across Karnataka to spotlight untold talent and their journeys. An internationally
published sportswriter and former national-level hockey player for Karnataka, Manuja is a true-blue Bengalurean who also writes on the city’s culture and life, blending deep reporting with a passion for storytelling.
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