Amrita Ramtahal has always believed that dreams have no age limit. At just 15 years old, while most of her peers are still figuring out their future paths, Ramtahal has already set her sights on a clear goal—cricket.
Hailing from Barrackpore, Trinidad, Ramtahal wakes up each day with a singular focus—to turn her dream of representing the West Indies into reality. Her journey has taken a significant leap forward as she not only paraded her skills, but also assisted Trinidad and Tobago Red Force Divas to top honours in the just-concluded CG United Women’s Super50 Cup in St. Kitts.
As the youngest player in the tournament, Ramtahal certainly made her mark. In a standout moment during the opening round, she took a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss none other than Stafanie Taylor, the West Indies’ most successful batter at the international level.
For Ramtahal, this moment is etched as one of her most cherished achievements in the sport.
“Dismissing Stafanie Taylor was surreal. She has been an inspiration to me since I was a child. To now play against her and take her wicket means everything to me. This is undoubtedly my best moment in cricket so far,” Ramtahal shared.
Ramtahal’s passion for cricket was sparked in an unexpected way.
“My dad and cousins inspired me to play. It all started with watching my dad gear up for his Sunday cricket matches. That’s where my love for the game began," she explained.
Driven by a desire to honour her family’s support, the right-arm medium pacer has consistently pushed herself to improve. Growing up in a community with limited opportunities for girls in cricket, Ramtahal took the initiative to play alongside boys.
“Playing with boys in my community was a proud moment for me,” she recalled.
“Being the only girl on the team motivated me even more. People would tell me, ‘You need to play for the West Indies and represent your country.’ Those words stayed with me," Ramtahal added.
Balancing cricket with academics is no small feat, but Ramtahal approaches it with determination.
“When I’m away from school, like now, I get my assignments from friends and family. I make sure to complete them at night after training or matches. It’s challenging, but I’m committed to excelling in both areas," the soft-spoken player reasoned.
Ramtahal also draws inspiration from her cricketing role models. She admires West Indies captain Hayley Matthews for her impeccable shot selection and looks up to her teammates captain Karishma Ramharack, Anisa Mohammed, and close friend Samara Ramnath.
As the adage goes, “A child shall lead the way", and Ramtahal is poised to lead a new generation of women cricketers, breaking barriers and paving the way for the future of West Indies cricket.