Australia U19 Star Hasrat Gill: Lot many Indian origin girls eyeing career in cricket in Aussie land | Exclusive

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At just 18, Hasrat Gill is one of the most promising young cricketers emerging from Australia. A left-handed batter and right-arm leg-spinner, she is already making waves, representing Victoria and the Melbourne Stars.

While yet to debut in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), Gill has left her mark in under-19 international cricket, notably in a tri-series in 2024 against Sri Lanka and England, where she emerged as the leading wicket-taker.

In an exclusive interview with MyKhel, Gill opened up about her cricketing journey, the challenges she faced, and her hopes for the future. When asked about the moment she realized she wanted to be a cricketer, Hasrat recounted an experience during the 2016 World Cup.

"We watched the 2016 World Cup T20 in India. It was on TV, and that was the first time I'd ever seen an Australian women's cricket team. Before that point, I didn't know that girls played cricket. And I remember asking this exact question like, 'Do girls play cricket?' From that point onwards, I thought, 'I can actually probably do this,'" Gill said.

Cricket was always close to home for Hasrat, thanks to her father. "I think he's probably the reason why I started playing, to be honest," she shared. Reflecting on multicultural representation in Australian cricket, particularly among women, Hasrat observed positive growth.

"There definitely has been a growth, especially on the girls' side of the game. Back when I started, it was only me and this one other girl that used to play who were Indian. Now, I see so many young Indian girls playing. It's been really cool to see how that's changed over the years," Gill said.

Gill's cricketing journey took her to the international stage with the Australian Under-19 team, a moment of pride for her. "I think anytime you get to represent your country, it's a real moment of pride and something that you should definitely value. We've got a really good setup here with amazing coaching, and the girls have been great."

Leadership is something that has naturally come to Hasrat, having had the experience of leading the side during a series in Sri Lanka. "I really enjoy that challenge of being a leader and making those decisions under pressure. It gives you a different perspective on the game, and I've always been sort of drawn to that."

As for her cricketing idols, both past and present, Hasrat credits Australian icon Ellyse Perry and India's Virat Kohli. "Growing up, Ellyse Perry was just someone that you looked at, and you're like, 'Oh my god, wow. What a player.' I love watching Virat Kohli as well. And recently, Shubman Gill-his batting is just amazing. In terms of bowling, I love going through footage of Shane Warne."

Looking ahead, Hasrat has her sights set on the upcoming World Cup in January 2024. "I know there's a pretty big World Cup coming up in January, so we've got a busy summer. Hopefully, I can make my WBBL debut or get into a domestic camp. I've also got U19 nationals before the World Cup, so it would be good to get some runs and wickets and hopefully secure my spot for the tournament."