Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared a video of 10-year-old Sushila Meena who lived in a small village in Rajasthan, northern India and now she has become a super star and very much in the public eye.
Everything changed when the video of her playing cricket was shared on social media by legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Praising her bowling action, Tendulkar noted her precision, swing, versatility, and a resemblance to the style of former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan.
The video quickly went viral, garnering millions of views and thousands of shares. Ironically, Sushila remains unaware of the cricketer who brought her into the limelight.
“I don’t know who Sachin Tendulkar is,” she admits. Her family lacks a television, and she has never watched a cricket match. Yet, she is grateful to him.
Coming from an impoverished tribal family, Sushila is now celebrated and admired by everyone she meets. From politicians and social activists to distant relatives, everyone wants to take pictures with her.
Wearing her school uniform and gripping a rubber ball, Sushila transforms on the cricket pitch into a fearless, focused player. “When I hold the ball, all I think about is getting the batter out,” she says.
“unpredictable” and “difficult to hit.”
Her classmate Asha, often batting against her, describes Sushila’s deliveries as “unpredictable” and “difficult to hit.”
Sushila’s mother, Shantibai, takes pride in her daughter’s achievements but recalls the lack of support from others. Many questioned her decision to allow Sushila to play cricket instead of doing household chores. In rural parts of India, traditional gender roles often discourage girls from participating in sports or activities outside the home.
“I don’t listen to what others say,” Shantibai asserts. “I’ll never stop her from playing cricket.”
The credit for fostering cricket enthusiasm at Sushila’s school goes to her teacher, Ishwarlal Meena. He started encouraging students to play cricket in 2017 to make school a more enjoyable place. Initially, teachers joined the games to motivate students, but soon everyone wanted to participate.
learned Techniques by Watching
Lacking formal cricket training, Meena learned techniques by watching YouTube videos, which he passed on to the students. He later created a social media account to showcase their talent, leading to increasing attention and feedback.
Sushila is not the first student from the school to gain online fame. Last year, another girl, Renuka Pargi, became popular for her batting skills and now trains at a private cricket academy in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.
Despite this recognition, the school and village remain in dire poverty. The school offers education only up to grade five, and many students stop playing cricket due to a lack of opportunities beyond that level.
Local officials have promised to improve conditions, including exploring land to expand the cricket ground, but progress has been slow.
Meanwhile, Sushila’s home is filled with gifts, mostly cricket bats, though her teacher notes that she still lacks proper cricket balls essential for advanced training. When asked what she does with the many bats, Sushila shyly replies that she tries to use them.
Amid the gifts and attention, the villagers wonder: Will this sudden fame and recognition translate into a meaningful change in Sushila’s life, or will it fade away, leaving her circumstances untouched?
