No walk in the park for Madhavi | Sunday Observer

No walk in the park for Madhavi

24 June, 2018
Harshita Madavi
Harshita Madavi

Harshita Madavi, the schoolgirl captain of Anula College in Nugegoda has seen her childhood dream come true. She’s made it to the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team. And it was not a bed of roses for Madhavi as she had to overcome several obstacles to reach the top.

Madhavi started playing cricket at the age of 12 and was always seen as a potential bet to make the grade. Her parents were devoted and supportive.

“My family was very important to me and my parents helped me in my passion for cricket”, says Madhavi. From 2017 Madhavi was in the Sri Lanka Development Squad and this year she was selected to the national squad becoming the second girl from Anula to wear the Sri Lanka cap.

She plays as an allrounder and is sound in technique as a batsman. She will not hesitate to acknowledge that she learn more about the game after her elevation to the Sri Lanka team. Madhavi first schooled at Gothami Girls College and was adjudged as the player of the series for two years in succession during the inter-school tournament as her team ended as runners-up. She made the change and enrolled at Anula to do her A Level examination and remembers how she made an epic innings of 158 in just 77 balls.

“That was an unforgettable moment to score 158 in just 77 balls against Holy Family Convent Bambalapitiya at the inter school match and also to represent Sri Lanka in that same year due to my performances”, said Madhavi.

Her first coach was Lalanga Rajapakse at Gothami from where she made it to the Sri Lanka Development Squad and then came under the guidance of Sahan Deshappriya at Anula whose team she captained to end as runners-up in 2016 and 2017 at the all-island inter-school tournament. She admits that finding a permanent place in the Sri Lanka side is a difficult task but with determination and courage nothing is impossible.

“My role models are Shashikala Siriwardena (women’s captain) and Kumar Sangakkara”, she says.

A left-handed batter and right-arm fast-medium bowler Madhavi made 300 runs and took 25 wickets in the concluded season. 

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