Call-up to India T20I team, reward for all the hard work: Kamalini

Tamil Nadu batter G. Kamalini on Tuesday expressed immense happiness and emotional gratitude on earning her maiden senior India call-up for the upcoming five-match T20I home series against Sri Lanka, to be played from December 21 to 30. She described the moment as “a reward for all the hard work” she had put in over “the last five to six years.”

In 2023, Kamalini’s father-trainer, Gunalan, suffered a massive heart attack and underwent an open-heart surgery. However, his daughter was kept in the dark, with the family determined that the news should not affect her cricket until he had fully recovered.

“All the struggles my dad went through, the health issues and everything, were for this one thing – for me to play for India. When that (call) came, there were a lot of emotions, thinking about all his help and the sacrifices he has made. Even now, despite health issues, he’s working for me. So, I’m very happy to get there. It’s a proud moment, and it has happened with all the support of my dad, mom, and (elder) brother. I want to win a lot of matches for the senior India team and become a main player for the side,” she said on the sidelines of the second edition of the Tamil Nadu Sports Conclave (TASCON) here.

The 17-year-old said that this year has been “very special” for her, having also “got to play in the WPL (for MI) and won the u-19 T20 World Cup.” Reflecting on India’s first ODI World Cup title triumph, she said: “I was very happy and felt it would be so good if I were there!”