V.R. Vanitha breaks the glass ceiling in Indian cricket, hopes to be a trend-setter

V.R. Vanitha will not be new to the world of participant auctions. She was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) camp in the course of the inaugural public sale of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in February.

But Saturday, as she equipped for the auctions of the Maharaja Trophy, the T20 match carried out by the Karnataka State Cricket Association in Bengaluru, donning the Shivamogga Lions colors, it was a brand new expertise for Vanitha, who has been appointed the pinnacle coach of the Shivamogga franchise. The former India worldwide made some sensible buys by signing Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Nihal Ullal, Koushiv V, and Rohan Kadam, amongst others.

In the Indian cricket panorama, it’s uncommon for a males’s crew to have a ladies’s head coach, however Vanitha has damaged the glass ceiling.

READ | KSCA T20: Abhinav Manohar, Mayank Agarwal, Padikkal costliest buys in participant public sale

“I had this in mind for a long time—getting into coaching men’s cricket and understanding the dynamics. I wanted to be part of it, maybe as an assistant coach. But the franchises felt that I was good enough to be the head coach. So, I have to give it to them for showing confidence in me,” Vanitha informed Sportstar.

The 32-year-old performed six ladies’s ODIs and 16 T20Is between 2014 and 2016 earlier than saying her retirement in 2022. Soon after, she was named the coach of the Karnataka U-16 crew earlier than RCB roped her in as a expertise scout for the WPL. Throughout the home season, Vanitha watched native video games throughout centres. Once RCB acquired the Bengaluru franchise, Vanitha was roped in because the fielding coach.

The administration additionally gave her a free hand, and never for as soon as did they query Vanitha’s decisions.
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Shivamogga Lions

“Even before announcing my retirement, I wanted to get into coaching. I was very clear in my mind. But WPL was not something I was expecting then. Till early January, we were not even sure if RCB would be getting a team, but eventually, WPL happened, and that helped me a lot,” she mentioned.

A couple of weeks in the past, she travelled to Australia to finish Cricket Victoria’s worldwide teaching course in Melbourne. Vanitha believes the course helped her improve her teaching expertise and perceive the place she stood internationally, however she added a caveat.

“A bit of it is about the mindset, but from the time I started playing, I have spent a lot of time playing with the boys. So, having played a lot with them, I understand their mentality. Those experiences also helped me during my game. That’s why I took up the role because I think I understand how the ecosystem works.”

A scholar of RX Murali, one of many famous mentors within the home circuit, Vanitha additionally labored as a coach in his academy. She remembers coaching the boys within the first few months. That expertise will stand her in good stead in her new job. “I learned the nitty-gritty of auctions from the RCB. Being around Mike Hesson and R. Malolan helped me a lot. So when I sat down to strategize now, things came to me naturally. Also, having followed men’s cricket closely—at least in Karnataka—and being a scout, I understand what to look for in a player. I don’t want to go by reputation, but rather pick players who can suit the style of play of my team. I would want the players to be more dynamic, and that’s something we followed in the Maharaja Trophy auction,” Vanitha mentioned.

The administration additionally gave her a free hand, and never for as soon as did they query Vanitha’s decisions. “We have got Abhinav, and I am really happy. We started our cricket together, so I know where he or Shreyas come from. So, it was easy to pick these guys. I know how they play and where they could fit in.”

While the match will put her teaching expertise to the take a look at, Vanitha needs to take up thrilling assignments and never confine herself to ladies’s cricket. “I don’t want to limit my growth. I would like to challenge myself. How can I grow as a coach? Coaching in different categories will give me more experience and allow me to grow from strength to strength,” she mentioned.