Indian cricketer Mithali Raj, who is all set to play the World Cup, is excited about her upcoming biopic Shabaash Mithu.
Next few months important for Indian cricketers Mithali Raj, She is facing her biggest cricket test in the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup to be held in New Zealand.
All eyes will be on Team India, but especially Mithali, as this will probably be her last major international sporting appearance. For the 39-year-old, who made her international debut in 1999, this time – leading up to the World Cup – is both “exciting and anxious”. “We are focused and looking forward to doing well,” says the female player who recently joined as the brand ambassador for Jacob Creek, who has long been associated with popular Australian cricketer Brett Lee. Excerpts from the virtual conversation:
How is the preparations for the World Cup going?
This is a big event and we all have worked hard for it. The 2017 World Cup has been a game changer for women’s cricket in India. We came second then and now we have the team to cross that hurdle. Since the World Cup is a month long event, there will be ups and downs, but we hope to win.
How do you deal with the pressure given the importance of the tournament?
You know the whole world is looking up to you and the team. There’s a lot of pressure, but I’ve tried to keep things simple. I am working on having a clutter-free mind, because the clearer you are, the better you can execute what you have planned.
Well done sweetu, Your biopic is going to be a hit soon. Why did you approve a film based on your life?
I wanted everyone to know not only my struggles but also the journey of Indian women’s cricket. In the nineties, if a young girl was interested in sports, they had to face many challenges. The growth of women’s cricket since then has been phenomenal, especially thanks to a stellar performance in the 2017 World Cup. A lot of young girls have now taken up the sport as it is becoming more viable. Now what has helped a lot is having matches on television. I don’t have any clippings of my first match to watch and rewind!
What were your biggest challenges in the nineties?
Traveling abroad was tough when I was in my teens. Without gadgets, all the decisions I made were my own. I learned from those experiences. It made me very independent. These days, we go to hotel rooms after a match, but at the time, it was more fun to tour with teammates hanging out together.
How Taapsee turned Mithali for the big screen?
We only met once due to our schedule but we chatted a bit over calls. She has played a player before and knows what it is like. Taapsee Committed actor. But, I put pressure on him saying, ‘Acting may be your profession, but you need to play me in this film’. He has worked hard to be closer to who I am in real life.
Movies based on cricket seem to be the flavor of the season. 83 well done, and you have jersey And Well done Mithu lined up in hindi…
When a cricketer is essayed in cinema, I relate a lot. I look at it differently from the general audience. love watching tamil movie Kana, based on a female cricketer. There are few things that get recorded in the mind of the audience by watching such movies, which shows that young girls can take the sport seriously.
Most of the batsmen practice or watch the game before batting. But once you read a book a few minutes before you went out to bat, which was very much discussed. Are you planning to do the same this time?
If I got a chance, I would study anywhere. It’s just that with all the recent restrictions, we can’t take our gadgets near the playground; So I can carry my book instead of Kindle. I recently finished Archer by Paulo Coelho and I are currently reading a book on Michael Jordan, one of my favorite athletes.
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