Xtra Time Web Desk: Keerthana Balakrishnan made history during the 2024 Women’s Premier League (WPL) players’ auction by becoming the first female cricketer from Tamil Nadu to bag a WPL contract with the Mumbai Indians (MI). The uncapped all-rounder, was acquired by the defending champions at her base price of INR 10 lakh. Keerthana was among the five players signed by MI from the WPL 2024 auction. The other players added to MI’s roster were former South African bowler Shabnim Ismail, Amandeep Kaur, S Sajana, and Fatima Jaffer.
Talking about Keerthana, she started her cricket career under the coaching of TS Mukund who is the father of former India opener Abhinav Mukund, at his academy. The 23-year-old primarily plays as a wrist spinner who can bat as well and score crucial runs coming down the order.
Daughter of a call taxi driver in Tamil Nadu, Keerthana got her first proper coaching from TS Mukund. The senior Mukund trains young cricketers from lower society for free and also provides cricket equipment for his students. It was an emotional moment for Keerthana and her family, after she was brought by the defending WPL champions.
As of now, Keerthana has played for four teams which include Tamil Nadu Women, Indian Green Women, South Zone Women, and Orange Dragons Women. Keerthana was first noticed when during the 2021-22 Freyer Cup, she collected 102 runs at an average of 34 and a strike-rate of 86. She also scalped 3 three-wicket hauls while playing for Tamil Nadu Women in One-Day tournaments.
After Keerthana got picked in the WPL auction, veteran India player Dinesh Karthik was elated and even went on to wish the Tamil Nadu player on his social media handle. It was DK who first shared Keerthana’s story on social media handle X.
Karthik, expressed his immense joy over Keerthana’s achievement on the microblogging site X. He highlighted Keerthana’s inspiring journey, being the daughter of a taxi driver and receiving training from TS Mukund, the father of Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund.
Here is what Dinesh Karthik wrote on X, formerly Twitter: