This is how Sneh Rana’s 2025 started: she was once again excluded from the Indian cricket team. Despite being a prolific wicket-taker, she was dropped from the ODI team more than a year ago to make room for a rising talent.
From Rejection to Redemption
It had been about two years since she was dismissed from the T20 squad following India’s elimination in the 2023 World Cup semifinals. A rare occurrence for an Indian international, she had gone unsold in the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, resulting in a significant financial loss.
The situation did not appear promising.
A Stunning Turnaround in 2025
Sneh Rana’s 2025 season concluded as follows: drafted late into the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad as an injury replacement, she took six wickets in five games and scored 26 runs off just six balls in one innings, one of the highest strike rates in women’s T20.
After being selected once more for the Indian ODI team, she won player of the tournament after taking 15 wickets in five games at a tri-national competition, including her first five-wicket haul.
🏏 Sneh Rana’s Remarkable 2025 Comeback
- WPL Entry: Late injury replacement for RCB
- Wickets: 6 wickets in 5 matches
- Batting Impact: 26 runs off 6 balls
- ODI Return: Player of the Tournament
- Tri-Series: 15 wickets in 5 games
- Milestone: First international five-wicket haul
World Cup Glory and Historic Triumph
The Indian T20 team selected her once more. She joined the Indian team for the World Cup. She scored 99 runs at an average of just under 50 while taking seven wickets in six World Cup matches.
Rana hoisted the cup aloft as the Indian women created history by winning their maiden World Cup; she was a part of the event that might fundamentally alter the perception of women’s cricket in India.
The Vidrohi Mindset
“What a roller-coaster year!” exclaims Rana. “Is not that what people say?”
Rana, who was acquired by the Delhi Capitals for a ₹50-lakh contract, is enjoying cricketing glory like never before in her lengthy career as she takes guard in a new season of the WPL this year at the age of 31.
A few weeks before the 2018 WPL begins, I meet Rana at her Dehradun home. Hers is a two-story home with vivid blue doors and a pink façade with lots of lattice work.
Fighting Spirit Etched in Ink
“A buddy of mine called me ‘vidrohi’—rebel—when I was younger because I would fight for any cause that touched me,” she recalled. “I have a tattoo of it.”
Following her return, every match she participated in was an opportunity to grasp the moment and engage in an unrestrained battle.
🌱 How WPL Changed Indian Women’s Cricket
- Visibility: All matches televised nationwide
- Attendance: Packed stadiums despite ticket prices
- Opportunity: Clear pathway for young girls
- Financial Growth: Higher contracts & match fees
- Domestic Structure: More tournaments & exposure
- Mindset Shift: Women’s cricket taken seriously
Roots, Resilience, and Reality
When Rana was younger, she played cricket with her sister and her cousins.
Even in 2014, nobody was aware that women’s cricket even existed.
Injuries, Loss, and an Unbreakable Will
Rana made her most spectacular “vidrohi” return during this game in Bristol versus England.
Rana lifts another sleeve to reveal the words “I refuse to sink” engraved on her forearm.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why is the 2025 season of Sneh Rana referred to as a “roller-coaster”?
Because she concluded the year as a World Cup winner, an important player for India, and a ₹50-lakh WPL signing after being cut from the Indian team at the start of the season and going unsold in the WPL auction.
2. What does Sneh Rana mean by “vidrohi”?
“Vidrohi” translates to “rebel.”
3. How important was Rana’s return to the Indian squad?
Very important.
4. What impact has the WPL had on Indian women’s cricket?
The WPL has changed public and parental perceptions.
5. How did Rana’s upbringing influence her career?
Playing cricket with the guys in her village.
Conclusion
The journey of Sneh Rana is a tale of perseverance, rebellion, and faith.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and inspirational purposes only.
