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Women's T20 Challenge: Keerthi James becomes first Kerala player to be named for the tournament

Keerthi James has inched closer to her Team India dream as she became the first Kerala player to be picked up for Women's T20 Challenge.

By Samrat Chakraborty | May 22, 2022 | 2 Min Read

In India, where women’s cricket is still at a developmental stage, the announcement of Women’s T20 Challenge set to run from May 23 to 28 has given a wide scope to the young talents to prove their worth. One such talent who was keenly waiting for her chance to prove her prowess in the tournament is Kerala women team off-spinner Keerthi James. The 17-year-old who was a part of the Senior Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy in 2018 has been named for the Velocity squad in the Women’s T20 Challenge.

Keerthi James continues to rise through the ranks

The Women’s T20 Challenge could well be a turning point for James’ career who dreams of donning the Team India jersey. Her performance in the upcoming tournament could also be helpful for her to find a place in the Women’s IPL which will get underway from 2023. “I was delighted when I was told that I was selected for the tournament,” Keerthi told sportstar. “It feels great to know that I am going to be part of an event that features the elite of international women’s cricket.”

Keerthi James was inspired by her brother at the age of eight

James has been persuading her goals from a young age. The first time she got drawn to the game was at the age of eight when she saw her brother play the sport. She believes that the Women’s T20 Challenge will further help her game improve as she will be playing and learning from some of the top international players. “You need to play in tournaments like these to improve as a player,” she said. “I was hopeful of getting picked as I have been doing rather well this season.”

“Kerala team has come a long way since I made my debut,” she said. “I may be the only player that has made it to the Women’s T20 Challenge, but there are quite a few who are capable of that. The various tournaments the Kerala Cricket Association conducts, especially these last few years, certainly has helped.”