Ekta Bisht's father became a 'chaiwala' to fulfill her dreams

Indian female cricketer Ekta Bisht's father, who retired from the Indian Army, ran a tea stall for over 10 years in order to help his follow her ambitions

Ekta Bisht

Ekta Bisht, became a star during India’s clash with rivals Pakistan during the ICC Women’s World Cup which took place on Sunday. 

Ekta went on to put on a brilliant show by bagging five wickets for just 18 runs in her 10-over stint.

But while Ekta Bisht has not had an easy journey to reach where her current position is, her family too had to endure hard times over the years.

Ekta Bisht’s father took to being a tea-seller after he retired from the Indian Army. His profession as a ‘chaiwalla’ was in order for him to make ends meet in their family.

Not many are aware of Ekta Bisht’s tough times back in the day, before she went on to become a member of the Indian women’s cricket team.

Also Read: Diana Edulji hails Ekta Bisht's super show at Derby

Ekta Bisht’s father Kundan had to provide support to a family which included Ekta and two more children along with his wife. His pension of a mere Rs 1,500 was hardly sufficient to make ends meet. He then went on to open a tea stall in Almora, Uttarakhand.

Speaking to Times of India, Kundan said, "Ekta started playing cricket when she was six years old. From then on, her love for the sport grew. We were sure that she would do India proud and she has done just that since she joined the national cricket team in 2011."

Ekta Bisht’s mother was all praise for her daredevil daughter saying, "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."

Ekta's mother also went on to say that her husband’s pension went on to increase later on which eventually led them to close the tea stall down.

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