'Feast for entire village': Says Renuka's mother as the Rohru girl shines in cricket World Cup

"I wish God gives everyone a daughter like Renuka. She has made not just her family but the entire country proud with her achievement," said Sunita Thakur, the proud mother of Indian women cricket team's opening bowler.

Having celebrated India World Cup victory with her family and neighbours last night, the proud mother is organising a feast for the entire village today.

"The entire family and neighbours saw India work their way to the historic victory and lift the World Cup. Today, we will throw a feast for the entire village. There will be ‘nati’ and DJs to celebrate the big win," said Sunita Thakur.

Coming from a small village, Parsa, in Rohru subdivision of district Shimla, Renuka has come a long way to becoming a World Cup winner.

"My father was a big sports fan. He wanted the two of us to make a name in cricket and kabaddi. He was such a big sports fan that he named me after Vinod Kambli," said Vinod Thakur, Renuka Thakur's brother.

It was Renuka who fulfilled the wish of her late father by becoming a regular member of the Indian women cricket team.

The journey though was far from easy. With no infrastructure or culture for cricket in her village, she would play with the boys on the streets. The big opportunity came when she was picked for the women cricket academy for girls, started by HPCA in Dharamsala. At the academy, she kept improving her craft and made her India debut in 2021.