Fiery Pooja blazes 174 not out

Even as Mithali Raj has put Hyderabad on the world cricket map by leading the Indian women’s team to the runner-up spot at the recent World Cup, another city girl has begun to burst out of the blocks. Meet Vanka Pooja, who smashed 174 not out in 93 balls for Indus Universal School in the inter-schools tournament being conducted by the Hyderabad Cricket Association on Thursday.

Opening the innings, Pooja packed her knock with 32 fours and five sixes to propel her side to 203 in 20 overs before opponents Jubilee Hills School crashed to 57 all out.

The 13-year-old’s 174 not out evokes memories of Harmanpreet Kaur’s unbeaten 171 for India in the World Cup semifinal against Australia last week. There’s a bit of Kaur in Pooja too, courtesy her mother Roma, a former Hyderabad, Indian Universities, South and Central Zone batswoman. Pooja’s father Prathap too was a promising batsman for Hyderabad back in the 1990s.

“Mithali Raj has been my role model but I want to become a player like Harmanpreet,” Pooja, who is a hard-hitter like Harman, told this newspaper after her batting blitz.

The performance of the Indian women’s team at the recent World Cup has clearly influenced Pooja. “I want to grow up to their level and emulate them someday. I am willing to work harder to get there,” she says.

For now, she puts in the hard yards. “I have a tight schedule. Go for practice from 6 to 8.30 am, then to school, back for tuition and then practice again,” says the 10th grade student.

As a child, Pooja has dabbled with badminton and tennis but “now, I want to be an international cricket player.” Off the field, “I’d like to be a lawyer too.” She likes music, swimming, dancing and reading as well.

“My family supports me a lot in pursuing the game. My dad also gets me to practice when there are no coaches available,” says Pooja, whose brother Karan too is a cricketer at the school level.

“She was about nine when we used to play in the house and I could see that she was timing the ball well, hitting it hard,” recalls Prathap.

Roma is a proud parent too. “Last year, she led the Hyderabad Under 16 side to the South Zone championship. She is also the youngest in the Hyderabad senior squad. I hope she reaches higher standards. That’s our dream now,” she says.

Mithali Raj has been my role model but I want to become a player like Harmanpreet. I want to grow up to their level and emulate them someday. I am willing to work harder to get there.

VANKA POOJA after hitting an unbeaten 174 in an inter-schools match