Indian Women's Cricket Sensation Ekta Bisht's Father Had To Sell Tea To Make Ends Meet

Ekta Bisht, star of the Indian women cricket team's emphatic win over Pakistan in the ICC Women's World Cup on Sunday, toiled hard to reach where she has. So did her family, often through cold wintry nights in Almora, Uttarakhand.

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For over a decade, her father, Kundan Singh Bisht, had to sell tea to make ends meet after retiring as havaldar from the Indian Army.

Also Read: 7 Things Worth Knowing About Ekta Bisht, The Woman Who Destroyed Pakistan In The World Cup

While cricket enthusiasts are now aware of the prowess of the left-arm spinner, who took five wickets and was declared Player of the Match against Pakistan, not many know that the 31-year-old had to overcome humble beginnings to climb to the top.

Kundan had to support his family, which includes two more children and his wife, with a meagre pension of Rs 1,500 after he retired from the Army in 1988. To supplement his income and to give wings to his daughter's dreams, he opened up a tea stall in Almora.

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Kundan told TOI, "Ekta started playing cricket when she was just six. From then on, her love for the sport only grew. We were sure that she would do the country proud and she has done just that since she joined the national team in 2011."

Also Read: Here's What You Need To Know About The Women In Blue Ahead Of The World Cup

Ekta's parents said that their daughter dared to do things others could only think of. "She loved the sport so much that she started playing cricket with boys. People would come and watch because she was the only girl in a team of boys. It put a strain on our finances but we supported her fully. She was a responsible child and would save the money we gave her during trials," the cricketer's mother, Tara, said.

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"Our finances improved after she was selected for the cricket team as sponsors started pouring in. Eventually, my husband's pension also increased and we could finally shut down the tea stall," Tara said. Ekta was captain of the Uttarakhand cricket team in 2006 and played for UP from 2007 to 2010.

Her former coach Liyakat Ali Khan said that there was a phase in her life when she was very disheartened as was unable to make it to the national team. "This phase lasted from 2006 to 2010, but I kept trying to motivate her and finally she was able to realize her dream. Her talent allowed her to surpass many difficulties, including the fact there was not even a proper stadium in Almora for her to train," Khan said.