Indian cricketer Devika Vaidya is working her way back to competitive cricket after becoming a mother in June 2025. The 29-year-old leg-spin-bowling all-rounder, who gave birth to her son Dhruv, is now preparing to return to domestic cricket for Maharashtra, with a possible opportunity in the Women's Premier League (WPL) also on the horizon. Vaidya's journey back to the field has involved rebuilding her fitness, regaining her bowling rhythm and balancing motherhood with professional commitments. Vaidya enjoyed a memorable comeback to international cricket in December 2022 after nearly five years away from the Indian team. She subsequently featured in the 2023 Women's T20 World Cup, the inaugural WPL and the Asian Games, where India won the gold medal. She also received a central contract from the BCCI in 2023.

"For the last 15 to 18 years, I had played a lot of cricket, so it was getting a little monotonous for me," Vaidya said. She added that she needed the break and had never regretted her decision. Although she was unsure whether she would return to competitive cricket, Vaidya remained confident that she could make a comeback if she chose to do so. Three months after giving birth, she returned to the gym and began rebuilding her strength. The initial phase proved difficult, as she struggled with basic exercises and found even a 400-metre run exhausting. "I remember my first day back at the gym - I was really sad that I couldn't even do a single crunch. I couldn't do a single push-up or pull-up," she recalled.

Her love for cricket eventually drew her back to the nets, where her father helped her practise batting. Vaidya said her husband and father encouraged her to pick up the bat without worrying about competitive cricket. "That is all I have done since I was a kid, and so I began. It was like rediscovering love - I missed batting and I realised I wanted to bat," she said. Vaidya's hard work began to pay off when she scored an unbeaten 84 in an invitation match held as part of Maharashtra's selection process ahead of the 2026-27 season. The innings gave her confidence and reinforced her desire to compete again. Her journey highlights the resilience required to balance motherhood and professional sport, as well as the passion that continues to drive her back to the cricket field.