In sports, people generally come across stories of an athlete's rise from rags to riches and fame. The sporting folklore brims bright with heartwarming tales of athletes who toiled relentlessly and dedicated their blood and sweat towards harboring a dream before it came to fruition. Minnu Mani has a similar story, a tale of a determined girl who chased her dreams and endured all hardships just to make sure that the dreams turn into reality one day. On July 9 (Sunday), Rani made her debut for India women's senior cricket team in the first T20I against Bangladesh.
A right-arm off-spinner and a competent willow-wielder, Mani's rise is both heartwarming and inspirational. Born into Kurichiya tribe in Choyimoola, Wayanad, Rani's childhood was humble as well as full of hardships. Her father is a daily wage labourer while her mother takes care of the house.
Mani began playing cricket at a fairly young age when her physical education teacher Elsamma Baby saw a spark and encourage the young girl to go for trials. Minnu's parents were not fond of the idea but after their daughter's impressive display in the trials, they could do nothing but support Minnu achieve her dreams.
The budding cricketers rise through different age group cricket was sharp and with consistent performances, she earned her right to a place in Indian women's team.
Delhi Capitals picked Mani for a price of Rs 30 lakh in the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) auction. She didn't see enough game time with the Capitals. Rani played three matches in the competition but batted and bowled only once.
Mani's talent and potential was on full display in last year's Women's All-India ODI tournament where she scored 246 runs and led all batters in the highest run-scored chart. The 24-year-old was equally potent with the ball and ended up with 12 wickets to her name.
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