Her phone kept ringing; text messages and WhatsApp messages started pouring in; she missed several video calls with friends and family. Sunday afternoon was indeed an emotional rollercoaster for Simran Sheikh.
As she sat in her hotel room in Ahmedabad watching the Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants tried their best to get her involved, with the latter ultimately fetching a whopping Rs 190 crore. .
The next few minutes were a bit of a blur for Simran as she couldn’t believe that the Gujarat-based franchise company had actually spent such a huge amount of money to woo her.
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” I didn’t expect to get so much money at auction. (I didn’t expect to get so much money at the auction),” said an emotional Simran. sports star Hailing from Ahmedabad, she plays with the Mumbai team in the Senior Women’s One-Day Cup.
Simran, who comes from Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, has never seen so much money in his life.
“It’s definitely a huge amount, but more than just the money, I’m also looking forward to returning to the WPL after a hiatus,” Simran said, making it clear that her ultimate goal is to play for the Indian team. “To ensure that my dream comes true, I have to fulfill my potential at Gujarat Giants and seize every opportunity…”
Life has not been easy for the 22-year-old, whose father, Jahid Ali, is an electrician in the neighborhood.
Simran learned the basics of cricket with the neighborhood boys. Her conservative parents also did not view her cricketing interests positively.
“I hear neighbors and family taunting and abusing me for playing cricket and these things don’t affect me anymore,” Simran said.
Simran lives with 11 people in a small 2-room house, she has 4 sisters and 3 brothers, and she would initially hear the ridicule from her siblings.
“Our people mohalla I had problems playing cricket with the boys and they complained to my parents every now and then. I will ignore all these complaints because I know that if I have to play cricket, I need to stay focused,” she said.
One of her brothers then took her to United Cricket Club in Crossmeadan where she honed her skills and learned the technical aspects of the game.
As she starts to excel at club level, Simran can eventually convince her Abu and Ami (Akhtali Bano) Let her chase her dreams. “It wasn’t easy. But looking back now, the struggle seems worth it,” Simran said with a smile.
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“Yesterday after I was picked up by the Gujarat Giants, my parents told me how proud they were of me. That’s what I’ve wanted to hear for years and I’m glad they’ve been there for me…”
This will be Simran’s second appearance in the WPL, the first being in the inaugural UP Warriorz competition. Simran’s base price was Rs 10 lakh but her performance was forgettable, scoring just 29 runs with a strike rate of 60.41 and an average of 5.80. She was released by the franchise but found no buyers at the auction for the following season.
“During the first WPL, I was still very raw and didn’t have enough playing experience to compete at such a high level. So, I couldn’t play to the best of my abilities,” she recalled.
“Of course, it was not pleasant to be left out of the competition, but I didn’t lose hope. I worked hard and tried to get better,” she said. Despite leaving no stone unturned, her efforts did not reflect in her performance in this year’s Mumbai Senior Women’s T20 Trophy. Although her team won the championship, Simran scored 176 runs at a strike rate of just over 100.
“My coaches in the Mumbai team have helped me a lot during this challenging phase and my friend Humaira Kazi (who is also a regular campaigner for Mumbai and Mumbai Indians) has supported me whenever I needed any help, It really boosted my morale,” she added.
Simran, who represented Team E in the recently concluded T20 Challenger Trophy match, improved her strike rate significantly by hitting six fours and seven sixes in just 40 balls in five innings. “My strike rate remained at 202.50. Everyone told me that this strike rate would help me land a team in the WPL, but I was not convinced till Sunday afternoon,” Simran added with a smile. To be honest, I thought I would be selected for Rs 10-20 lakh, but when the price crossed Rs 10,000, I pinched myself several times to make sure I was not dreaming…”
Of course she isn’t. With this huge deal, she now becomes the second highest-paid uncapped player after Kashvee Gautam, who signed a contract worth Rs 2 crore with the Gujarat Giants last year.
While Simran admires Virat Kohli and dreams of meeting the superstar cricket star one day, she has no idol. “I consider myself my idol. Those days of struggle taught me to never lose hope, no matter how hard things get, and I just did that,” she said.
Once the ongoing domestic tournament ends in the last week of December, Simran wants to go home, spend time with his family, relax and get in the groove again.
With second chance coming, Simran wants to live her life Hindaj‘!
