A story of belief, relentless hard work, and an unyielding spirit, Sneh Rana’s journey is a true example of the art of comebacks. From setbacks and injuries to being sidelined from the national squad, Rana refused to let adversity define her. Instead, she turned challenges into motivation, returning stronger each time. Her comeback to the Indian team was not just a personal triumph but an inspiring chapter in Indian cricket, showing that with grit and belief, no dream is ever truly out of reach.
In a video recently shared on the official BCCI Women handle on X, the all-rounder is heard saying, ‘Sneh Rana and comebacks is a great love story.’ Owing to her remarkable resilience and determination, Sneh Rana has earned the nickname ‘comeback queen’, a title embraced by both her teammates and Indian cricket supporters alike.
Recalling her journey, off-spinning all-rounder Sneh Rana shares that she made her international debut in 2014 against Sri Lanka but was dropped from the national side in 2016. Undeterred, she put in the hard yards in the domestic circuit and worked her way back into the Indian squad, making a memorable return in a Test match against England in 2021.
In the first innings of her comeback Test, Rana impressed with a four-wicket haul. When India was bowled out for 231 and forced to follow on, the situation looked bleak. However, in a pressure-filled second innings, the ‘comeback queen’ rose to the occasion once again, scoring an unbeaten 80. Her resilience helped India avoid defeat, as the match ended in a hard-fought draw.
However, due to inconsistent performances, Rana was unable to secure a permanent spot in India’s limited-overs setup. The recently concluded tri-series in Sri Lanka marked the latest chapter in her remarkable comebacks, as she returned to white-ball cricket after nearly a year and a half.
True to form, Rana looked in fine touch throughout the series against Sri Lanka and South Africa, claiming 15 wickets, including a four-wicket haul and a five-for. Her stellar performance played a major role in India’s victorious campaign in the tri-series. She was also named Player of the Series for her outstanding bowling performance.
During her time away from international cricket, she revealed that she focused on developing her bowling variations and worked on improving her batting, particularly power hitting, both in the nets and in the domestic circuit.
She also credited the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for her T20I comeback. Rana showcased a notable improvement in her batting during the 2025 WPL. Despite going unsold in the auction, she joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru as a replacement player.
Coming in at number 10 against UP Warriorz in just her second batting innings of the season, she blasted 26 runs off six balls, including three sixes and two fours. She also claimed six wickets in five matches, maintaining an economy rate of 8.22. Combined with her strong performance in Sri Lanka, this earned her a recall to the T20I squad for the England tour.
She credits her friends and family for keeping her positive during her absence from the national team. In particular, she praised her mother, who encouraged her to stay positive and work hard.
Speaking about the ongoing One-Day International series, she said the team’s confidence is high, especially following their historic T20I series victory. The squad is preparing diligently and aims to clean sweep the hosts, England, in the three-match ODI series. However, she acknowledged that England is a strong side, making the competition tough. She expressed her excitement and eagerness for the challenge ahead.
She concluded by saying, “Comebacks are always greater than the setbacks.”
