Until recently, 10-year-old Sushila Meena lived an ordinary life in a small village in Rajasthan, India. However, everything changed when cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared a video of her bowling. He praised her action, comparing it to that of former Indian bowler Zaheer Khan. The video quickly went viral, bringing Sushila widespread recognition. Interestingly, she doesn’t know who Tendulkar is. “I don’t know who he is,” she says, noting that her family doesn’t own a television.
Smooth, effortless, and lovely to watch! Sushila Meena’s bowling action has shades of you, @ImZaheer.
Do you see it too? pic.twitter.com/yzfhntwXux— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 20, 2024
Newfound Recognition
Now, Sushila, who comes from a poor tribal family, is the center of attention. Politicians, social activists, and even distant relatives all want pictures with her. Despite the attention, Sushila remains humble, simply smiling and posing for photographs. However, once she steps onto the cricket field, she transforms into a focused and determined player. “Once the ball is in my hand, all I can think about is getting the batter out,” she explains.
Classmate’s View
Sushila’s classmate, Asha, describes her bowling as difficult. “Her ball turns unexpectedly and then suddenly hits the wicket,” Asha says. Meanwhile, at home, Sushila’s mother, Shantibai, takes pride in her daughter’s accomplishments. Yet, some villagers have criticized Sushila for playing cricket instead of doing household chores. “I will never stop her from playing cricket,” Shantibai asserts.
Supportive Teacher
Cricket has become a popular sport at Sushila’s school, thanks to her teacher, Ishwarlal Meena. When he joined in 2017, he began encouraging students to play. “A fun activity is needed to keep them engaged at school—otherwise, they will stay at home,” he explains. Mr. Meena, though not formally trained in cricket, learned techniques from YouTube and passed them on to his students. As a result, he created a social media account to showcase their talent, which led to an outpouring of support and advice from viewers.
Challenges at School
Sushila isn’t the only student from the school to gain attention. Last year, Renuka Pargi went viral for her batting skills and now trains at a private academy in Jaipur. Despite this, Sushila’s school and village still face significant challenges. “People come, they make big promises, but nothing changes,” says Mr. Meena. Currently, the school only offers education up to grade five, and there are no further opportunities for the students once they advance past that level.
Lack of Resources
Though local officials have promised improvements, including additional land for the cricket field, nothing has materialized. The forest department has conducted a survey, but no action has been taken. Meanwhile, Sushila’s home is filled with cricket bats, even though she practices with a rubber ball. No one has provided a proper cricket ball for her training, which is essential for higher-level play.
Ultimately, the big question remains: Will Sushila’s viral fame lead to lasting changes in her life, or will it fade away like the fleeting attention she currently receives? Only time will tell.
