Out Of The Shadows

The Indian women’s cricket team won plenty of hearts with their World Cup campaign. However, unless there is a change of mindset, they risk being relegated as an afterthought once again​

- Vimal Kumar

HARD WORK, THE right attitude and natural talent are the three pillars which help a sportsperson to reach the top of their game. However, no matter how good they are, unless the opportunity presents itself to showcase their ability on the right stage, it all goes to nought. Hurdles in the shape of infrastructure, funds and proper coaching also need to be dealt with along the way. Sports is replete with success stories, of teams and individuals coming from nowhere to achieve honours against the odds. Leicester City’s Premier League title triumph in 2016, P.V. Sindhu’s and Sakshi Malik’s Rio Olympics silver and bronze medals, respectively, might not belong in the same sentence, but they have three things in common—dedication, perseverance and self-belief.

Now, the Indian women’s cricket team can be added to the list; however, unlike the other three, these players face an uphill task to stay relevant in the consciousness of sports fans. What happens next will make or break them.

It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to say that  the majority wouldn’t have known that the ICC Women’s World Cup was taking place in England this year. Amidst all the stories circulating regarding a fracture in the relationship between the men’s team captain, Virat Kohli, and head coach, Anil Kumble, along with the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy, few would have been aware that the Indian women’s team was participating in the World Cup.