Pratapgarh, Rajasthan – In a heartwarming yet humbling tale, Sushila Meena, a young bowler from a non descript village in Pratapgarh, has become an internet sensation after cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared a video of her bowling action on social media. Her smooth, left-handed bowling style drew comparisons to former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan. However, despite the viral fame and comparisons, Sushila’s father, candidly revealed that his daughter does not know who Tendulkar is.

Ratanlal Pargi, Sushila’s father, shared his excitement with The Mooknayak, expressing pride in his daughter’s newfound fame.

“Her knowledge of cricket comes solely from her coach, Ishwarilal,” said Ratanlal, a daily wage laborer. “We don’t own a television, nor do we have any resources to watch cricket matches. Sushila has only heard about cricket from her coach, who teaches her the nuances of bowling.”

The Viral Fame and Tendulkar’s Post

On Friday, Tendulkar posted a video of Sushila’s bowling on X (formerly Twitter), praising her action as “smooth, effortless, and lovely to watch.” He tagged Zaheer Khan in his post, highlighting the resemblance to the legendary Indian bowler.

Zaheer Khan too agreed with Tendulkar as he replied, " You're spot on with that and i couldn't agree more. Her action is so smooth and impressive-she is showing a lot of promise already".

The video quickly went viral, bringing Sushila into the national spotlight. Videos of her and other schoolgirls playing cricket on makeshift grounds have since flooded social media, showcasing the raw talent that often remains hidden in rural India.

Tendulkar’s post caught the attention of Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, who personally reached out to the Meena family. In a video call, she invited Sushila to Jaipur and assured them that the local school ground would be improved to support her training.

On 22 December, BJP leader Kanhaiya Lal Meena also visited the school to meet the young girl, where he gifted Meena a new cricket kit and some financial assistance. Additionally, he facilitated a video call with Minister Kirodi Lal Meena and MP Manna Lal Rawat to interact with the girl. Apart from these leaders, several officials from the Bharatiya Adivasi Party also came to meet the girl. During this visit, they arranged a video call with MP Rajkumar Roat as well.

In a social media post, Rajkumar Roat stated, " To hone the talents of tribal student like Sushila Pargi-Meena, I have requested the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open a Sports University and Skill Development College in the parliamentary constituency of Banswara-Dungarpur. There is a lot of talent in the tribal dominated areas, the government should just work in this area with a little positive thinking."

Meanwhile, on Monday, Sushila and her father traveled to Jaipur to meet Kumari. Unfortunately, the Deputy CM was unavailable, and the family had to return halfway to Pratapgarh.

A family of limited means

Sushila, the only daughter among three siblings, is a class 5th student at Ramer Talab Government school in Dhariyawad block of Pratapgarh. Her parents, Ratanlal and his wife, work as daily wage laborers on construction projects, earning a meager ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month.

The family’s struggles are evident in their humble home, which is reportedly under the PM Awas Yojana. Ratanlal explained that they are hopeful for their children’s future, wishing for them to pursue higher education and avoid the hardships the family faces today.

“We have three children, all of them study in the government school so we don’t have to spend a penny on their education, but surely we want them to pursue higher education so that they don’t become what we are today,” said Ratanlal. His sons Ravinder reads in class 8 while the youngest of all Jitendra is in class 3.

Sushila practices cricket for two hours daily, dividing her sessions between the morning and evening. In addition to cricket, she excels in academics and enjoys painting. Her father says, “She dreams of becoming a cricketer, and we want her to achieve that. We don’t want our children to face the struggles we endure.”

The family has received assurances of support from BJP State Chief CP Joshi, who pledged that the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) would adopt Sushila and provide for her coaching. This promise has brought hope to the family, who are eager to see Sushila develop her skills under professional guidance.

“BJP State Chief CP Joshi has assured us that Sushila will be adopted by RCA, and her coaching will be taken care of. What else do we ask for?” said Ratanlal.