The dedication and commitment of Ajinkya Rahane and Shubhlakshmi Sharma
In this part of the world where, cricket is considered a religion and cricketers are worshipped as gods, the rise of the Men in Blue despite all the odds will surely give you jitters.
Consider Ajinkya Rahane, which might serve as a classic example of what he had to go through before the whole India now wanting him in the playing eleven for the Men in Blue.
He debuted for Team India way back in 2011. From a forgettable first Test to gradually becoming one of the country’s most consistent batsmen, highlighted by eight centuries in the last two years.
India’s national teams have put in memorable performances and accumulated titles, but behind this greatness lies years of dedication, hard work, and passion.
"Cricket has become so much more than a sport. It's completely embedded into everyday life because of the sheer emotional investment in the game, which is both profound and intimidating," Nike quoted Rahane as saying in an interview.
"Everyone wants us to win, but more than that everyone looks to us as examples of success and greatness, as if we are the anomaly. The truth is, we worked hard to be here, and in the next T20 it could the kid playing cricket in the streets after school who takes my place. Greatness is innate as long as you have the will to go after it."
Even when he was seven years old, his dedication pushed him to train for hours at the nets and soon he was playing cricket with men in their twenties. “I still remember the first time playing with those older guys, the ball hit my helmet and down I went,” he recalls.
Also read: Stop blaming Rahane for India’s defeat to West Indies
“I was crying. Everyone was frustrated, telling me I should go back and that I was too young to play this game. I didn’t though. I'd travelled so far to be there, my family had sacrificed so much. There was no way that I was giving up and walking away. The next five balls came and I hit five boundaries."
It was actually his sheer determination and passion for the sport that prepared him for the future.
"My self-belief is my strongest asset,” he affirms. “I never look back at past failures. I just go out there thinking I am going to be a match winner for the country, be a hero. Every situation is a new opportunity, to win, to learn, to create history and to become perfect. If you respect your passion, it will take care of you and cricket has taken care of me," Rahane explained.
However, the man seems far from being satisfied.
"We have a great chance, but it's not going to be easy. We have to go into this tournament feeling like we can win, with the right attitude, with respect. It's important to win but more important to do it in the right way. Representing the country, that’s the biggest motivation for me. Whenever I step out on the field to bat, there is an opportunity for me to become a hero for my country. There is no better feeling."
Not to forget The Women in Blue
It just feels like a mirror image of talent and commitment when you turn from Rahane who stands tall among the men in blue to Shubhlakshmi Sharma, the talented fast bowler of the women’s national team.
By the time she reached the age of 10, Shubhlakhsmi had already committed her entire focus exclusively on cricket. She then convinced her father to allow her to seriously pursue cricket at the highest level.
As Shubhlakhsmi explains, "every kid, when they first pick up a bat, wants to play for India."
This quest evolved the once rebellious girl into a serious athlete. “Cricket changed me,” she recalls.
“As I got better and met people who were increasingly serious about the sport, I realized that I had to show more respect, work harder to keep my place on a team and learn to accept others and work with them as a unit."
"Cricket has taught me discipline, how to focus on what I want to achieve and to grab my dreams with both hands. I think that's the unique power of sport – that it teaches you a lot about life without you realizing it. How to work hard, how to be part of a team, be respectful and many more things."