Sunetra paranjape

Mumbai Cricket Association: Upon taking a single off Titas Sadhu on the second ball of the 13th over, Vrushali Bhagat raised her arms in celebration and claimed a stump from the non-striker’s end as a memento. With her jubilant teammates rushing to embrace her, Vrushali’s act of collecting the stumps marked the culmination of a long-held dream for both herself and Mumbai – winning the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy at home, the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai’s bowlers dominated in the final, restricting Bengal to 85 runs. Vrushali’s aggressive 45 runs and her partnership with captain Humairaa Kaazi (41 not out) secured an easy win in 12.3 overs. A thumping win for Mumbai at their home ground meant they retained their title and won on November 9, 2023.

“It was our dream. We had never won in Mumbai before, and we wanted to win. Even now, I can’t say it in words. But it felt so good that we won the title again in Wankhede. I didn’t play so many matches in the tournament. But I knew that I would get an opportunity in the finals. So, I was always prepared and ready to face any situation,” says Vrushali in an exclusive conversation with IANS.