Fiery Kolhapuri

Pratiksha Pawar's cricketing journey is a reminder that dreams know no boundaries

- Jinit Parmar

In a country where cricket is more than just a sport, where it is a dream shared by millions, Pratiksha Pawar from Kolhapur dared to believe that this dream was also meant for her. This determined young cricketer's journey is filled with sacrifice, setbacks, courage, family support, and an unquenchable love for the game.

Pawar's city, Kolhapur, is known for its culture and traditions. Like many children around her, her early life was simple and grounded in family values. Cricket was not a common path for girls there, and opportunities were limited. Later, her family moved to Turbhe in Navi Mumbai, where she spent a part of her childhood. It was here that her interest in cricket slowly began to grow, even though the environment around her was not designed to support that dream. "I didn't know what the facilities were. I only knew I loved holding a bat. I used to believe that if my heart wanted cricket badly enough, one day the world would make space for me," she says.

One of the biggest challenges Pawar faced was not a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity. Schools in Turbhe did not have cricket as a sport. There were no proper grounds, no structured coaching, and very few role models for young girls who wanted to play the game seriously. For many families, this would have been the end of the story. But for Pawar's family, this challenge became a reason to take a bold step.