In 2006, MD Thirushkamini made a Sachin Tendulkar-like debut at the age of sixteen against Pakistan women. Now, the Chennai girl has scripted her injury comeback with a century against West Indies in India's first match at the World Cup. Out of action for over two years due to a knee injury, Thirushkamini returned to the squad after a decent performance in the Challenger Trophy in December.

“She is a very smart player and reads the bowlers and the field set up well,” said PV Ramesh, the coach of MOP Vaishnav College where Thirushkamini did her graduation and post-graduation.

“When she joined the college in 2007, she was already an India player and was very focused in the game,” he said.

Sports runs in the family. Her father Murugesan Dickeshwashankar played hockey for Chennai Port Trust in the city leagues.

Her younger sister MD Sugaragamini is a member of the Tamil Nadu cricket squad.

“Her father took VRS from his Port Trust job to help his daughters in cricket,” said Ramesh.

“Thirush used to take her father to the ground and make him give throw downs all morning and even in the hot afternoons.”

The southpaw shows the same intensity she does in cricket in her studies.

“She is proficient in her studies and wants to study further. She even rejected a job in the railways,” said Ramesh.

Thirushkamini, who is a big fan of Tendulkar, is an all-rounder and can also keep wicket. Her big moment came in 2011 when Tendulkar won the Polly Umrigar award for India's best cricketer and she was adjudged the best women's cricketer by the board.