Shree Charani: From Housing Quarters to India’s Spin Star
From Kadapa’s housing quarters to Team India, Shree Charani’s journey is one of courage and belief.
Born on 17 August 2004 in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, Shree Charani grew up in a humble family; her father worked at the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant and her mother was a homemaker. Her journey began when, as a little girl in Class III, she picked up a plastic bat to play cricket with her mama, Kishore Reddy, in their housing quarters. That simple act unknowingly sparked her cricket dream.
Charani was naturally athletic. She excelled in kho-kho, badminton, and athletics, even becoming a 3K running champion. Her physical education teacher, Naresh, recognized her talent and took her to Hyderabad for trials at the Sports Authority of India. There, former India selector MSK Prasad advised her to try cricket, a suggestion that changed her life.
Her mother’s faith became her biggest motivation. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she began full-time cricket training under coaches Marripuri Suresh and Srinivas Reddy, staying back after practice for “one more over, one more ball.” Her courage shone through in domestic matches, where she often asked captains to trust her in tough moments and delivered with key wickets.
In 2025, Delhi Capitals bought her for ?55 lakh in the Women’s Premier League, where Meg Lanning mentored her closely. Soon after, she made her ODI debut, becoming the first woman from YSR Kadapa district to play for India.
At just 21, Shree Charani is already a national sensation proof that with discipline, humility, and self-belief, even small-town dreams can spin into greatness.
