Despite becoming only the third Indian player to make it to the Big Bash League, why did Veda Krishnamurthy never make it big in Indian cricket? In a sport where consistent performers like Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur dominated headlines, she represents one of women’s cricket’s biggest missed opportunities – a talent who showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t sustain the consistency required at the highest level.
Veda Krishnamurthy Early Promise: Child Prodigy to International Debut
From a very early age, she always stood out at grassroots levels. Unlike many other girls she played with, she was someone who always wanted to play strokes and embrace an aggressive brand of cricket. This approach showed in her performances at the grassroots level.
Like many Indian women cricketers who make it to the international team, she was a child prodigy. Her rapid rise through the ranks was remarkable:
Early Career Milestones:
- Broke into Karnataka State team at just 14 years old
- Became vice-captain of the state team by age 17
- Captained Karnataka Under-19 team to two consecutive South Zone Interstate titles
- Made international debut at 18 against England
Historic Debut Performance
Veda Krishnamurthy made her debut for India with a statement. Not only did she debut away from home in England, but she scored a fifty on debut – becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to achieve this feat overseas.
What made this knock impressive was the context. While Poonam Raut also scored a fifty in the same match, she took over 100 deliveries. Coming in at 98 for 3 on debut, Veda scored 51 off just 57 balls – showcasing the aggressive intent that would define her career.
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The Early Setback and Veda Krishnamurthy Reality Check
However, the initial success that she experienced in her debut wasn’t replicated in the next nine games. By the time 2012 ended, she’d played 10 matches with an average of just 16 and only that one fifty to show.
After averaging just 6 in 2012, she was dropped from the Indian team. This became a crucial turning point in her career. The 19-year-old realized that everything wouldn’t be easy in international cricket.
As she later admitted in interviews, early success had made her believe she was bigger than the game itself. Getting dropped in 2012 was a humbling experience that led her to move from Karnataka to Railways – stepping out of her comfort zone to improve her game.
Veda Krishnamurthy Comeback: Pressure Situation Specialist
After two years in domestic cricket, she made a strong comeback in 2015, scoring 63 versus New Zealand. Characteristically, she walked into another pressure situation at 57 for 3, stitching partnerships and leading India until getting dismissed at 180 for 8.
When BCCI introduced women’s contracts in 2015, she was among the first to receive one. This recognition came because of a unique pattern in her game – her ability to perform when the chips were down.
Pattern of Pressure Performances
An interesting pattern emerged with her half-centuries: whenever she scored 50-plus, either no one else around her was scoring, or India was under severe pressure. Batting primarily at numbers 5 and 6, her ability to score crucial runs under pressure ensured continued opportunities despite failures.
Key Pressure Knocks:
The 2017 World Cup: Veda Krishnamurthy’s Finest Hour
Possibly Veda Krishnamurthy’s most famous innings came in the 2017 ODI World Cup against New Zealand. India were 154 for 4 in the 37th over, needing to build a substantial total against a strong New Zealand side.
She delivered one of the tournament’s best knocks – 70 off 45 deliveries. This strike rate was rarely seen in women’s ODI cricket at the time. Her innings propelled India to 265 for 6, and New Zealand was dismissed for just 79.
Strike Rate Pioneer
She held several impressive records during her playing days:
Veda Krishnamurthy’s Fatal Flaw: Inconsistency Problem
Despite her pressure-situation heroics, Veda Krishnamurthy had a fatal flaw that ultimately ended her international career: extreme inconsistency manifested through an alarming number of single-digit scores.
The Single-Digit Problem
Her biggest issue was her inability to convert starts:
The pattern was clear: she either scored 50+ or got out in single digits, making her an extremely unreliable batter despite her pressure-situation abilities.
Comparison with Contemporaries
To understand how significant this problem was, consider the comparison with other players:
Even compared to Jemimah Rodrigues, who plays a similar role, her inconsistency was glaring.
League Cricket Struggles: WBBL and WPL Disappointments
Her problems weren’t limited to international cricket. In franchise leagues, she faced similar consistency issues:
These performances in premier T20 leagues highlighted that her inconsistency wasn’t just an international cricket issue but a fundamental batting problem.
The Jemimah Rodrigues Factor: Replacement Found
The emergence of Jemimah Rodrigues ultimately sealed her fate. Both players had similar roles, but Jemimah proved more consistent and impactful:
When she had four single-digit scores in 2018, she was dropped forever from the ODI squad. The same pattern followed in T20s, where she was eventually dropped in 2020.
Why Veda Krishnamurthy Couldn’t Fulfill Her Potential
Veda Krishnamurthy represents a classic case of unfulfilled potential in women’s cricket. Several factors contributed to her downfall:
Technical Issues:
- Inability to convert starts into substantial scores
- All-or-nothing approach: either 50+ or single digits
- Lack of consistency despite proven ability under pressure
Mental Approach:
- Early success led to overconfidence
- Failed to develop game management skills
- Couldn’t adapt batting approach for consistency
Competition Factor:
- Emergence of more consistent players like Jemimah Rodrigues
- Limited positions for aggressive middle-order batters
- Need for reliability over occasional brilliance
We’ve also made a complete video here that you can check out:
The Legacy of Veda Krishnamurthy
Veda Krishnamurthy remains one of women’s cricket’s biggest “what ifs.” Her ability to perform under pressure was unquestionable, and her aggressive approach was ahead of its time. However, her career serves as a reminder that talent alone isn’t enough – consistency and adaptability are crucial for sustained international success.
At just 32, Veda Krishnamurthy is nowhere near the international circuit, a stark reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in professional cricket. Her story offers valuable lessons for young cricketers about the importance of building on early success and developing mental resilience.
While her international career may have ended prematurely, Veda Krishnamurthy’s contribution to Indian women’s cricket – particularly her pressure-situation heroics – deserves recognition as part of the sport’s evolution.