Exclusive Interview: Preeti Dimri discusses India’s T20 World Cup exit, her cricketing journey and the evolution of women’s cricket

India’s performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 was disappointing, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s team failing to advance past the group stage. Former left-arm spinner Preeti Dimri, known for her impact in domestic and international cricket, shared her candid thoughts on the team’s performance, her career, and women’s cricket in an exclusive interview with Cricket Times.

Q: When did you start playing cricket?

Preeti: I was four years old when my mom decided one of her daughters should be an athlete. She encouraged us all to try sports like running and football, but opportunities for girls were limited back then. Since I was the youngest, she thought cricket might be a good fit and enrolled me at the Eklavya Sports Academy in Agra.

Q: How did you get selected for the Indian women’s cricket team?

Preeti: The senior team was headed to Belgaum, and one of their bowlers fell ill. Women’s cricket wasn’t part of the BCCI back then, and the Women’s Cricket Association used to handle the selections. Hemlata Kala recommended me to the selectors, even though I was just 12. I went for trials, and after bowling to a few batters, the selectors were convinced of my strength. That’s where my journey began.

Q: In your debut Test against England in 2006, you took five wickets. How was that moment for you?

Preeti: It was a proud moment. I was thrilled, but my mother was even happier since watching me play was her dream. After taking five wickets, I called her, and she told me she had already heard the news. That match was significant for me and validated the selectors’ confidence in their choices.

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Q: You’ve played extensively under Mithali Raj’s captaincy. What kind of captain was she?

Preeti: Mithali was not only a great player but also an outstanding captain. A captain’s role is not just to perform but to lead, support the team and bring out the best in everyone. She excelled in these areas, and I learned a lot from her during our 18 years playing together for India and Indian Railways.

Q: How do you view BCCI’s recent decision for equal match fees for men and women?

Preeti: It’s a fantastic step, especially for the newer players. When I played, we didn’t have match fees or the facilities that are available today. Seeing this progress is very heartening.

Q: India didn’t reach the T20 World Cup semifinals this year. What went wrong?

Preeti: Fitness and strength were significant issues. The international players had superior fitness levels, which showed in areas like running, batting, bowling, and fielding. We need to focus on improving fitness across all departments.

Q: Do you think it’s time for Smriti Mandhana to be appointed as India captain?

Preeti: I believe the decision should rest with the selectors. A captain’s job is to unite the team and bring out the best in players. If everyone fulfills their role well, we’ll see positive results. Leadership change may not be necessary, but whoever has shown consistent performance could be considered.

Here’s the full video:

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.