Anushka Dongre - humility and patience
UTS North Sydney District Cricket Club | November 27, 2025
Anushka Dongre has been a long-standing member of our women’s side, representing the Bears during her undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Technology Sydney. After a short hiatus, she has returned to the club while continuing with her Masters in Physiotherapy.
As though she never left, Anushka has slotted back in as opening batter and fast bowler for the Third Grade side. In her first game back, she made her presence known, top scoring with 55* (mandatory retirement) and bagging two wickets to help start off the season with a strong win. We are delighted to welcome Anushka back and can’t wait to see what else she has to offer this season.
Q1: Describe the moment you first fell in love with Cricket and what drew you to it?
A: It was the first time I ever played a proper cricket match, which was indoor cricket. It was something new for me, so I was drawn to it, and after giving it a proper go it’s been the one sport I’ve consistently played throughout my life.
Q2: What is your best cricket memory?
A: I would have to say the match against Manly a few seasons ago when we ended up in a super over! I was nominated to bowl and I was super nervous. It came down to the last ball of the over and I bowled the batter out. We won, and it was an amazing feeling to make a contribution to a win that we so badly wanted!
Q3: How do you balance your Cricket with your personal life and responsibilities?
A: During my undergrad degree, it was easier to balance cricket with my assessments and classes. I’m currently still completing my masters, and it definitely has been challenging to balance. I’ve had to sacrifice attending training and playing games consistently so that I can manage my uni workload. This has only been possible because of how accommodating my captain, teammates, and head coach have been, and I am extremely grateful for this.
Q4: What has been the most challenging obstacle you have faced in your sporting career so far and how did you overcome it?
A: When I was playing indoor cricket, I was the only girl in the whole tournament. I was already new to the game, but I felt like I had to work extra hard to prove my abilities just because I was a girl. So, I continued to play and train hard regularly. I think a combination of focusing on improving my own skills and the constant support I received from my family, teammates and coaches helped me overcome this obstacle, which I know many girls face.
Q5: How would you describe your start to this season? Any highlights so far?
A: A great start! After an 18-month hiatus, I scored a 50 in my first game back, and took a couple of wickets. Considering I hadn’t trained or played in a while, I was pleasantly surprised with my performance, and glad I could make a valuable contribution to the team and be part of our first win of the season.
Q6: What is one thing that we will find in your game-day lunch box?
A: An Uncle Toby’s choc chip bar. Always a great pick-me-up snack when I don’t have the time to eat more during the match!
Q7: Have there been any life lessons or values that you’ve learnt from Cricket that you apply to everyday life?
A: Yeah absolutely! A couple of examples include humility and patience. I always remind myself that I live a comfortable life where I have access to so many good opportunities. With this, I continue to remind myself to be patient with everything I do, and not take anything for granted.
