Despite being in Malaysia at the time 6,400 km from home, an all rounder from Wayanad, Joshitha VJ has come to the fore in women’s cricket after Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) selected her for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. Joshitha was too nervous to watch the auction, relying on phone buzzes from her teammates for the news of her selection after fresh off a win against Pakistan in the U19 Women’s Asia Cup.
Joshitha hails from Wayanad, an area popular for its cricket stars Minnu Mani and Sajeevan Sajana to whom he looks up to. Kerala cricket academy in her hometown is a very important resource, and she was trained by Minnu chechi that it was possible for us to reach that level, she added. The academy has been the safe space where the players can kickstart their cricketing journey and it’s here where she started playing cricket before her sister chose arts.
Shikha, Arundhati Reddy, Minnu … it’s all because of her experience with these players, who are doing so well right now, who come across to her and let her know what a ludicrous thing it is to even practise the game or to think of oneself as a cricketer,” said Joshitha’s coach. Joshitha learnt the ropes from role models, having worked as a net bowler for Delhi Capitals. “I realised Shikha di made me see the sport in a very different way,” she tells. ‘Its (experiences with players at various camps) been very important for me to refine my skill,’ she said.
While not involved much in cricket herself, her parents still stand behind her passion. “The response was always ‘cheido’ (do it) any time I asked for something,” she says. Right along with them, Joshitha has been able to focus fully on cricket and attend camps and competitions.
On her WPL journey, Joshitha wants to follow in Minnu and Sajana footsteps and make a mark in the Indian team. Known for her in-built ability to swing the ball both ways, the 18-year-old pacer dreams of getting to meet her idol Ellyse Perry, and enjoy success with homemade biryani when she returns home. Joshitha is set to continue climbing the cricketing ladder as she holds her WPL contract in her hands.