In the early 90s, the late Sampath Kumar, a low-profile cricket coach of the then APSRTC, used to take with him a younger Mithali Raj to media homes to function a reminder of kinds in regards to the big potential the younger cricketer had.
It was robust for Sampath and Mithali’s mother and father to see the child make a troublesome alternative between cricket and her old flame – classical dancing (Bharatnatyam). In retrospect, Bharatnatyam’s loss turned out to be cricket’s big acquire.
So, when Mithali – typically dubbed because the Sachin Tendulkar of girls’s cricket for her monumental feats with the willow – it was a fruits of an period through which she defied all odds.
From coaching diligently on the Keyes High School beneath the watchful eyes of Sampath Kumar to graduating to the seniors grade when there have been solely a handful of tournaments had been organised, a younger Mithali advanced and surmounted all attainable challenges any girls cricketer may face in these days.
Mithali typically struggled to search out high quality bowlers to apply in opposition to earlier than worldwide assignments. A situation which pressured her to have a look at the St. John’s Coaching Foundation, which produced the likes of V.V.S. Laxman, Hanuma Vihari to call a pair.
Playing with the boys on the basis beneath the tutelage of her then coach R.S.R. Murthy, Mithali slowly however certainly demonstrated that she belonged to a special class.
Mithali was somebody who tried her greatest to keep away from controversies and efficiently managed to maintain her private life away from the media glare and solely let her bat do the speaking.
Source: www.thehindu.com
