I was stunned after taking Smriti's wicket: Tanusree Sarkar

2017 ICC Women's World Cup has changed the whole scenario of Women's Cricket, not only in India but all across the world. Now girls are enrolling themselves in the various coaching centres and attending camps too. But the situation was not the same few years ago. Very few knew that women's cricket exists. Bengal cricketer Tanusree Sarkar belongs to one such exceptional family.



Having started playing cricket at an early age, Sarkar didn't go through many struggles while getting selected for the U-19 team in Bengal. But her major set back was the shoulder injury; due to which she had to miss the senior domestic matches. But exercise and rehab helped her to overcome that phase. After that, she made her comeback in the team in 2016.



 



After making her comeback in 2016. ©Tanusree Sarkar



 



Recently Shruti Banerjee had a chat with Tanusree Sarkar:



Here are some excerpts from the exclusive interview:



 



How did cricket happen to you? At what age did you start playing cricket?



I used to play with my grandfather in my childhood. He taught me how to hold a bat or how to bowl. I played a lot of gully cricket. At the age of 13-14, a neighbour of us told my family to enrol me in a cricket academy. Then I took admission in Yooger Pratik (now Pratik Sangha). It was that time when I started playing cricket professionally.



What was the role of your family while shaping your career?



Family played a big role. They have always supported me, especially my grandmother. Though my mother didn't support at first but now she has understood that women’s cricket has a future too in India.



How did you get selected in the Bengal team?



I got the chance in the Bengal team for U-19 within a year of starting professional cricket. My fielding was my strong point then. I was a medium pacer when I went to the trial. I was not a batter at that time. But I scored 50 odd runs and they selected me as a batter in the team.



Tell us your cricketing journey.



I got the chance in the U-19 Bengal Team without much struggle. But the struggle started after that. I didn’t take it seriously at first but when we became the U-19 champions in 2014, I started taking it seriously. During that time, I got my shoulder injured in the fitness camp but didn’t pay attention to it. I got the chance in Zonal Cricket Academy (ZCA) and got to know the facilities of women's cricket as well.



I played U-19 matches with the injured shoulder. It became worse after that and I missed playing in district matches. I was not allowed to play with the injured shoulder at that time as physio advised me to take rest.



In 2014, when I got the chance in Senior T20 matches, I got an injury to my finger in the very first match. I didn’t get to play in any matches after that as my finger was not stitched at that time.



It was tough for me to spend that time without cricket. I started giving attention to my injury then, started exercising and went to rehab too. Later on, I joined the camp and went through all the selection matches. And, finally, I came back to the team in 2016.



 



During a ZCA camp. ©Tanusree Sarkar



 



In Inter State Women's T20 Competition at Kolkata on Jan 3, 2016, against Maharashtra, you took 3/13 (including Smriti Mandhana and Devika Vaidya's wicket). What was your feeling at that time?



I was stunned as Smriti is a class player and I was unable to understand how she was bowled on my delivery! I am not that kind of a player who celebrates after taking wickets. Though I always think to celebrate, later on, that doesn’t happen though! (She giggles). But yes, I was happy as we won the match.



You are regular in India A team, what do you think is needed now to be selected in the national team?



Performance. As you know the competition has become really tough now. If you can’t perform well, you will not get the chance. I have played the warm-up matches against Australia and England, realized that the level is really high now. So, if we want to play in the national team, we have to perform our hearts out in the upcoming tournaments.



Did education take a back seat once you decided to pursue cricket professionally?



Yes, you can say this. I have just completed my school and joined college. Though I couldn’t attend any classes yet due to practice and NCA camp. It’s not possible for me to continue study in regular college, so I thought to opt for a private college. As I am a science student, it’s tough to maintain too with practical classes. I might change my subject too, though nothing is finalised yet.



You have played under Jhulan Goswami’s captaincy in the domestic team and played under Smriti Mandhana in the Challengers Trophy. How will you describe their captaincy?



They both want us to deliver our best on the field. Jhulan di (Jhulan Goswami) is very aggressive as a captain whereas Smriti (Smriti Mandhana) is very calm and composed. Sometimes Jhulan di scolds us on the field but Smriti never does. Smriti used to discuss with us. I loved both their captaincy.



 



With the India ODI captain Mithali Raj. ©Tanusree Sarkar



 



How did you feel bowling to Mithali Raj in the Challengers Trophy?



I totally loved it. Though I could do much better at that time. I have bowled her before too and it was a great experience as well.



Last year you were the stand-in captain of Bengal. Did it help to perform better or was it a pressure on you?



The pressure was definitely there. If the team can’t perform well, the responsibility comes on captain’s shoulders. It was my first time as a captain in the senior team and it was a challenge too. I had been the captain of the U-19 team previously. At first, I was thinking how others will take this thing as there were many senior players in the team but later on, it went well. I used to discuss the strategies a lot with everyone.



You are going to play the Challengers Trophy under Deepti Sharma's captaincy. You both have played together in the domestic matches for Bengal. How much will this help you?



Yeah, it will help a lot as we know each other very well. Even she knows Bengali very well and we can communicate well too. I have played under Deepti before. She also discusses strategies a lot with all of us.



 



With former team India coach Tushar Arothe. ©Tanusree Sarkar



 



How’s Tanusree Sarkar off the field?



I am not at all serious off the field. I love to hang out with friends.



 



Rapid Fire:



Favourite Food: Pizza



Favourite Book: Any detective book



Favourite Pastime: Listening to music



Favourite Actor: Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar



Favourite Singer: Sanam Puri



Favourite Player (both male & female): Sachin Tendulkar and Mithali Raj



Favourite sports persons outside cricket: Lionel Messi



Best Friend in the team: We have a group and all are my very close friends. (Nisha Maji, Indrani Roy, Rinki Raj, Moumee Sasmal, Sabana Khatun, Soumoyashree Bhowmic)



Idol/Inspiration: Swarajit Chatterjee (My coach)



Most memorable moment of life: In 2014, when I got the chance in the India A team to play against South Africa.



Embarrassing moment: Every time when I don’t get runs and I don’t understand the reason as well.



Yourself in one word: Sorry, I have two! Aggressive (on the field), casual (off the field).



 



Which cricketer comes to your mind hearing these words?



Aggressive: Virat Kohli



Cool: Mithali Raj, MS Dhoni



Introvert: Smriti Mandhana



Foodie: Pooja Vastrakar, Shabana Khatun (Bengal Team)



Style Icon: Virat Kohli