Missed calls and a miracle catch

Admired by fans for her jovial personality and witty one-liners, India all-rounder Amanjot Kaur was juggling between searching for mobile network and clicking pictures with her teammates last evening. She wished to talk to her father, Bhupinder Singh, who was distributing sweets to celebrate India’s ICC Women’s ODI World Cup triumph, but could not connect to him over the phone. She tried thrice, before leaving it for later and joining her teammates for a quick dance to the tunes of Punjabi numbers.

On being asked if she had a word with her father or coach Nagesh Gupta, Amanjot turned her phone and said, “I am not getting network, but will talk to them later. Now, it is time to enjoy the win.”

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All-rounder cricketer Amanjot Kaur’s house in Mohali erupts in celebrations

Always sporting a smile, Amanjot faced her fear in the crucial World Cup final against South Africa. She fumbled twice before finally taking Laura Wolvaardt’s catch at deep mid-wicket.

“I was nervous to the core. It was the toughest catch of my life as the ball slipped out of my right hand. I managed to keep my eyes on it and get my hand under it for the second time, but it slipped again. Somehow, I managed to get hold of it while diving to the ground,” said Amanjot, who became a key member of India’s title-winning team.

While she is the first in her family to play cricket, Amanjot gets plenty of support and advice from home. “In the morning, I got advice from my aunt. She does not know anything about cricket, but suggested that I should swing even without seeing the ball. My family members do not understand cricket that well. For them, if the ball hits the bat, it’s a four. If not, you lose your wicket...I have slowly gotten used to such banter,” laughed Amanjot.

While his daughter is busy making the country proud, Bhupinder, a carpenter by profession, has his own routine that keeps him occupied. He still loves to open his shop himself every morning to carry out his usual work. On Sunday, however, the shutter was down as the family sat down to watch Indian’s final.

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Sleepless night to bhangra in morning, celebrations erupt at Amanjot’s home

Amanjot Kaur's Mohali connection

Amanjot Kaur, who studied at a local college, lives with her grandfather, Ishar Singh, and parents Bhupinder and Ranjit Kaur. She played for the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). A resident of Mohali, she had captained the Chandigarh senior women’s team for three consecutive years before moving to the PCA.

Trained under local cricket coach Nagesh Gupta, the young all-rounder had taken a break before entering fresh in the World Cup phase. Watching his trainee winning the World Cup was an emotional moment for Gupta as well, who celebrated the feat in his own style. “What more you could ask from your trainee. Contributing to India’s World Cup win, this is a fresh start to her career,” he said.

It was not all smooth sailing for Amanjot, who spoke about the difficulties she witnessed, including the injury and subsequent recovery at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. “It was a tough time as I needed a break before the tournament. I was lucky to make full use of it in Bengaluru. My parents were praying for my recovery. I think it’s all their blessings.” The talented all-rounded ended on a light-hearted note, saying, “I never imagined wearing the World Cup champions medal. I remember racing onto the ground and still cannot feel my legs. I got to understand the importance of an ice bath today.”