Renuka Singh Thakur is a fast bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) In her third season, she has claimed 10 wickets in just seven matches. Her path to success was anything but easy. She left her village to join a cricket academy, steadily climbing the ranks. She was dropped from the U-19 team, a moment that hit her hard. Her relentless drive paid off when she made her India debut against Australia in October 2021. And in 2023, RCB picked her for the inaugural WPL season, though she managed just one wicket in her debut season. She turned to Jasprit Bumrah for advice on handling pressure. Now, back at her best, Renuka has ten wickets to her name and held the purple cap at various points in the season. Playing for RCB in the WPL has been a thrilling experience for her. When we go to the stadium, the whole stadium chants RCB. I like it when the crowd chants our name, it gives us a push. But, overall, Women’s cricket has grown a lot in the past few years. At this time, there are so many facilities, the money has increased, and so many people can see a career in this. When I go home too, little kids play in the village, so it feels good when they come and say, ‘Didi, I want to be like you’ That feeling a person is growing because of me, that’s incomparable,” she signed off.