Gargi Bhogle: I Want to Play Cricket Worldwide With the Biggest Names

Gargi Bhogle is a senior USA women’s cricketer and has represented the USA at several international women’s cricket events in the past five years. She missed the ICC WCWC Global Qualifier in South Africa due to a broken finger. However, she’s back on the domestic and international circuits, having recently represented the USA at the ICC Americas Qualifier held in California earlier this year.

USAcricketers.com recently grabbed the chance to chat with the 20-year-old California college student.

usacricketers.com: Who has been your biggest inspiration or role model in cricket, and why?
Gargi Bhogle: Alyssa Healy is my biggest role model; I love her batting style. Her aggressive nature while batting drives me to enhance my skills to establish a similar batting style. I tend to play with an attacking nature and learn a lot from watching Healy play.

usacricketers.com: Can you highlight a moment in your career that you consider a turning point or a significant achievement?
Gargi Bhogle: A turning point in my career occurred in July 2022 when I broke my pinky finger during a selection game. I felt that I was at the top of my game then, and it genuinely took me a long time to get back into playing with the same aggressive mindset. I always look back and regret how long it took me to get back on my feet and start working hard again, but I needed to learn that lesson through my injury.

usacricketers.com: What changes or improvements would you like to see in supporting and recognizing women’s cricket?
Gargi Bhogle: I would like more playing opportunities for female players in the United States. The senior team only gets opportunities to represent the United States at the ICC Qualifiers every two years. Suppose we receive more opportunities to play at the international level. In that case, our female cricket peers will feel greater excitement, encouraging them to be more passionate and interested in the sport.

usacricketers.com: Can you share a memorable team moment or bonding experience?
Gargi Bhogle: One of my favorite moments occurred in the 2021 ICC Global ODI Qualifier. The USA played against Zimbabwe in a nail-biting match. While we had a poor batting inning first, we took nine wickets while Zimbabwe still needed 20 runs. Both teams fought tooth and nail to win the game for their country. As an American, I remember emotions being high for all of us as there was a crowd cheering for the Zimbabwe women’s team. Overall, we all reflected that we play cricket for these moments of adrenaline and emotion.

usacricketers.com: Do you find specific aspects of your training routine particularly crucial for your performance?
Gargi Bhogle: I need one session weekly where I just hit the ball. In that session, my coach (i.e., my father) did not give me instructions about my technique or things to focus on. Instead, it is just a time for me to have fun and laugh while playing cricket. Without this session, I feel overwhelmed if I always focus on everything I am working on.

usacricketers.com: How do you unwind or relax when not on the cricket field?
Gargi Bhogle: I love hanging out with friends and family, going to new places, hitting the gym, and watching my favorite TV show, Grey’s Anatomy.

usacricketers.com: What are your personal and team goals for the future regarding cricket achievements?
Gargi Bhogle: Personal goals: I want to play cricket worldwide with the biggest names, not just as a substitute but as a core member of each team. Team goals: I want the USA Women’s cricket team to participate in the World Cup. We must start by winning matches in the Global Qualifiers, and an additional goal is to do just that.

usacricketers.com: Do you follow specific strategies or routines to maintain your well-being during busy cricket seasons?
Gargi Bhogle: I love gym workouts, so strength and power training comes naturally. I am not a fan of cardio, but I have a strong group of friends and teammates who motivate me to complete running workouts assigned by our S&C program. As for mental health, I love to talk about my headspace with some people I trust and journal my cricket experiences.

usacricketers.com: Are there any lessons or experiences from your journey that can benefit aspiring players?
Gargi Bhogle: Do not slack off. It is so easy to get lazy and start pushing things off for tomorrow. Trust me – it is so easy to push off things as a college student since you are trying to focus on maintaining your grades or having fun. No matter how good you are with the skills, you will only improve if you consistently work hard.

usacricketers.com: As a current member of the USA Cricket squad, how would you describe the camaraderie and team spirit among the players?
Gargi Bhogle: We are a good unit. Almost all players know each other well, as we often meet in domestic tournaments. Our captain, Sindhu Sriharsha, unites us firmly and ensures we work together as a team rather than as individuals.

usacricketers.com: How do you see the future of women’s cricket evolving in the USA, and what role do you hope to play?
Gargi Bhogle: There is already a vast improvement in the growth of cricket as a sport in the United States. The number of girls playing where I live (Southern California) has nearly quadrupled in the past five years, and this is only the beginning. As I have begun coaching some girls here, I hope these young girls and players can look up to me as a player, coach, and mentor. I always wish I had a female mentor to guide me as I was learning the sport, and I hope these girls can feel supported by my presence.