Gandhi Jafta is a woman with a mission every time she walks out to bat no matter which team. Runs, the more, the better, is what it is about for her. 

Therefore it is no surprise that she is the Tuks women's cricketer of the year. The past season she has also been the vice-captain of the Northerns women's team. 

A definite highlight was the innings she played against KZN Coastal a day after celebrating her 20th birthday. Gandhi opened the batting. When the last ball in the T20-encounter had been bowled, she was still at the wicket. Smiling. Northerns had won. It was all that mattered. 

Don't ask her how many runs she had scored or how many balls she had faced. She does not know.  Gandhi guesses it might have 38 runs of 38 balls. To her, playing cricket is not about statistics. It is about the job at hand. Winning. 

So it is no surprise that she can't really elaborate on her heroics for the Tuks women's team. 

"I know I have scored three fifties in the limited over games. One against Irene Villagers who went on to win the league. One against Sinoville who might have finished second. And then also against Hammanskraal. It was only against Defence that I failed to score," is about all Gandhi can remember.

Gandhi has been playing cricket for as long as she can remember. There was a time that had dreams of becoming a top tennis player. At primary and high school she played provincially. In the end, however, she chose cricket. It is the team aspect and the opportunities that clinched it for her. 

"My dream is to play for South Africa. To do so means I will have to more consistently make big scores," said the Tuks player who in 2018 was selected for the SA Emerging squad. 

Last year she was selected to play for the F van der Merwe XI in Cricket South Africa's T20 Super League. 

The Tuks player admits that as a batsman she relishes to duel it out with a bowler. It is the unpredictability that gets her adrenaline pumping.

"With every delivery, there is a chance of losing your wicket. That is why I never try and outthink a bowler. It is crucial to focus only on what is happening the moment the ball leaves a bowlers hand. Nothing else should matter."

Gandhi describes herself as a batsman who bowls. She used to bowl medium pace deliveries but decided to switch to bowling off-spin. The Tuks player admits to still honing her skills of trying to keep batsman guessing. 

Serena Williams is her role model in sport.

"She is the personification of what can be achieved when you dedicated. It is something I strive towards. 

"From a personal perspective, Margaret Mitchell, a teacher at Lilyfontein School (East London), had a massive influence on who I am.

"She taught me to make the most of every moment and situation. To be positive, no matter what might be happening. That is the attitude I try and take to the field every time I play."