BENGALURU: Karnataka women’s cricket has lost its most experienced player to Bengal, with opener VR Vanitha opting out of the state set-up. On Monday, the decks were cleared for the 31-year-old, who has played six ODIs and 16 T20 matches for India, to move to Bengal with the Karnataka State Cricket Association granting her a no-objection certificate.
Vanitha began her career for Karnataka in the 2006-07 season against Goa in the inter-state women’s one-day competition. In a career spanning 15 years, she featured in 96 List A matches and 102 T20 matches for the state. An attacking batter, she has scored 1,957 (highest score 95) List A runs and 2,117 runs (HS: 93) in T20s.
The member of the 2016 India T20 World Cup squad has the distinction of scoring a double century in T20. She achieved the feat, with a 93-ball-206 (19x4; 12x6) in the KSCA league.
At Bengal, Vanitha will join a star-studded team which includes the likes of the seasoned Rumeli Dhar and Jhulan Goswami.
“It was a tough decision to take up the offer because Karnataka is home to me and what I am as a cricketer I owe it to the state. But as a professional cricketer, I felt the need to take up new challenges and explore other opportunities. I couldn’t have asked for a better top-flight team than Bengal. While I’m sad to be leaving home, I’m excited about the new beginning,” she said.
Vanitha admitted that she has a few more seasons of cricket left in her, after which she would like to return and serve Karnataka cricket.
“In a few years, I see myself giving back to Karnataka cricket which has shaped my career. I will be willing to take up any role that KSCA offers,” she added.
