"Cricket Is In My Blood": Taniya Bhatia On How She Became Wicket-Keeper

India wicket-keeper batter Taniya Bhatia, who trained under RP Singh, said that cricket was in her blood and she was destined to play for the national team. Bhatia was named as one of the five breakout stars by ICC in 2018 and continues to be a regular for India. However, her recent form has dipped and has been questionable.

Bhatia said that she started playing cricket with boys and was influenced by her father, who was a cricketer. She also said that her father advised her not to waste time and join the academy if she was really interested to make a career out of it. From their, she appeared in trials and went on to be picked up for Punjab U-19 side.

“When I was very young, I used to play in my college with boys, but then my father, he is a cricketer. So he told me that I should not waste my time here and if I was really interested, then he would put me to an academy. And I was actually 8 years old when I joined the academy. So, I was the only girl there with 150-200 boys who practiced with me. I practiced there for three years,” Taniya Bhatia told Times Now.

“When I was 11, I gave trials for Punjab U-19 and I was the youngest to get into the squad. When I was 13, I was the youngest to get picked for the senior team. So, from there it started.

“Yes, because it was not that difficult for him because I was always interested in cricket. Even when I used to play with boys, I used to play cricket. It was in my blood. I think it’s because my father is also a cricketer, my dad’s brother is also a cricketer,” she added.

Bhatia last featured for India in the women’s T20 World Cup. She was not in-form during the marquee tournament as she had the high score of 23 runs.