Uttarakhand cricketer Ekta Bisht’s mother, Tara: ‘People used to tell us ladkiyon ke match koi nahi dekhta, but today Ekta has made us proud playing cricket’

When India scored only 170 runs against Pakistan, humein laga ab toh haar gaye hum. Par phir Ekta ne five wickets le kar hum sab ko bahut proud feel karaya aur poore desh me apna aur humara naam roshan kar diya!” These words by Tara Bisht, Ekta Bisht’s mother, is a common sentiment that is being shared by everyone associated with the young bowler. Ekta’s five wicket haul against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup helped India seal a 95-run win against their arch rival.The 31-year-old cricketer, who hails from Almora in Uttarakhand, is a left arm spin bowler who made her ODI debut in 2011 against Australia. While the cricketer is busy with the ongoing tournament, Doon Times caught up with her family, her Uttarakhand teammates and her first coach, who shared Ekta’s journey with us.

Tara, Ekta’s mother, says, "Ekta was good in academics as well as sports. She was four years old when she first started playing cricket with boys in our locality. Bas aas paas ke bachhon ko ikattha kar ke nikal jaati thi cricket khelne. She was nine when she started going to a nearby stadium to play. A lot of time people used to tell us things like – ladkiyon ke cricket team ko koi nahi poochta, kya isse khelate rehte ho humesha; ladkiyon ke match koi nahi dekhta, tum ladki ko bewajah khela rahe ho. But we had confidence in our daughter and we never stopped her from playing and today, she has made all of us so proud. We also had some tough time after her father retired from the Army and we faced some financial losses in business but things turned around when Ekta got selected in the team and started getting sponsors for her game."

SHE USED TO BREAK WINDOWPANES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND I HAD TO FIGHT FOR HER!: EKTA'S BROTHER

Vinit, Ekta’s brother, shares how he and his sister bonded like friends. "Ekta is more like a brother to me and a friend. We used to play cricket and football together. She was very passionate about the game and kai bar logon ke ghar ke sheeshe tod deti thi khelte hue aur phir jab woh daante thay, toh mujhe aage kar deti thi! So I had to fight with our neighbours on her behalf. Jaise Dangal movie mein jo ladkiyaan thi na, bas waise hi thi woh – boy cut hair, shirt and jeans and poora time cricket."

SHE IS NOT JUST AN AMAZING BOWLER BUT A SUPERB HUMAN BEING TOO: HER U'KHAND TEAMMATES

Talking about how Ekta was, when she used to play in the state team, her former teammates from the state shared that she wa the most mischievous player in the team.
Vijayshree, who has played with Ekta at the state and university level, says, "I was a batsman and she would often bowl me out at the nets during practice sessions. She is not just an amazing bowler but a superb human being as well, jisse bas hanste rehna hota tha. I remember once we were going to Puducherry and we had a halt at the Chennai airport. For the first time, we saw this coin vending machine – where you put notes and get coins in return. First, we exchanged one `10 note to coins and then suddenly, Ekta got so excited that she started exchanging all our notes for coins. At the end of it, our entire cash was in coins! So we stood next to the machine and whoever would come to exchange notes for coins, we would give them coins from our kitty and take the notes in return! So instead of the actual machine, we acted as the coin vending machine! Later, we got a good scolding from our coach for this."

<p>Early Years: Ekta Bisht (behind) with her U’khand teammate Mamta Bagdwal and others<o:p></o:p></p>

Early Years: Ekta Bisht (behind) with her U’khand teammate Mamta Bagdwal and others
Mamta Bagdwal, another player who has played with Ekta at the state and university level, shares, "We were Ekta’s senior in the team but that girl had a charm of her own. She was mischievous yet dedicated when it came to the game. She used to play with boys before coach sir roped her in the team."

EKTA USED TO PLAY WITH A PLASTIC BALL WHEN I FIRST MET HER: COACH LIYAKAT ALI KHAN

Liyakat Ali Khan, Ekta’s first coach says, "She has made all of us so proud. I remember that I met her in 2000 when somebody told me that there was a girl who plays with a plastic ball with kids but has a lot of potential in her. So I called her to the stadium; she wanted to be a medium pacer but I encouraged her to pursue spin bowling, which has, today, become her strength."
Talking about her fighting spirit, the coach adds, "I remember in 2003 because of a head injury, she could not be a part of a camp when the under-19 team was all set to play against Pakistan. She was very depressed initially, but pahad ki ladki ko ladna aata hai! She fought back from the injury, practiced really hard and got selected in the team again. I kept her motivated during this phase as it was a difficult time for her. She still takes training from me which makes me feel so happy and proud of our young girl."
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