India all-rounder Sayali Satghare, who currently plays for Gujarat Giants in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), has her eyes firmly set on representing the Indian national team in the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be hosted in India this year. Satghare is determined to contribute to India’s dream of lifting the prestigious trophy.
“First, the goal is to win the WPL trophy. Looking ahead, we have a home World Cup, and my dream is to be a part of that team and help India win,” Satghare shared. She added, “Playing a World Cup at home will be an incredible experience.”
Satghare’s rise in Indian cricket has been marked by perseverance and dedication. Reflecting on her journey, she recalled how she was initially picked as a replacement for Gujarat Giants last season but did not get an opportunity to play. “After that, my focus was on working hard and improving in all aspects of my game. I spent the next three to four months pushing myself to get better,” she explained.
Her hard work paid off when she was selected for the India A tour of Australia after a camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Impressive performances in the tour, followed by a strong domestic season, solidified her place in the conversation for national selection. “It has been a journey of ups and downs, but staying consistent and believing in myself has helped me. Playing for India has been a dream come true since childhood,” she said.
Being part of Gujarat Giants has provided Satghare with invaluable experience. She spoke highly of the team’s environment, saying, “For the past two seasons, the franchise has taken great care of us. Being part of the WPL is a massive opportunity, especially playing alongside overseas players. You get to learn so much from them.”
Satghare expressed gratitude towards the support of the foreign players and coaching staff within Gujarat Giants. “Our foreign players have been incredibly supportive, always sharing their experiences. The coaching staff has also placed a lot of trust in us,” she shared.
The all-rounder also praised Gujarat Giants’ captain, Ashleigh Gardner, for her calm demeanor on the field, especially in tough situations. “She’s very composed, which helps us in tough situations. On the field, she constantly communicates with us about our game plans, making sure everything is clear,” Satghare said.
Satghare also highlighted wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney’s remarkable consistency, stating, “Beth Mooney is in exceptional form. From the time I have seen her play for Australia, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a match where she hasn’t scored. We always talk to her about how she’s consistent in any situation or condition, whether she’s playing in Australia or India. We try to pick her mindset.”
Among her teammates, Satghare looks up to West Indies cricketer Deandra Dottin for her self-belief and confidence. “Her self-belief is incredible. No matter the situation, she backs herself completely. That’s something we can all learn from,” she added.
As an all-rounder, Satghare is inspired by Australian cricketers, especially Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland. “Ellyse Perry has always been an inspiration, but currently, the all-rounder I admire most is Annabel Sutherland. She is young but makes significant contributions with both bat and ball. I really like how she approaches the game,” Satghare noted.
Despite Gujarat Giants’ inconsistent start to the WPL, Satghare emphasized the team’s focus on the process rather than the outcome. “The key message in our dressing room is to stick to our plans rather than worry about outcomes. Even in the matches we lost, our bowling unit performed well. We knew that if we built strong partnerships in batting, the results would have been different,” she said.
“No one dwelled on losses. Instead, we focused on the positives, which helped us regain momentum and win our last two matches,” she concluded, signaling a positive outlook as Gujarat Giants look to finish strong in the tournament.