This is how Indian spinner Ekta Bisht's success was not a 'cup of tea'

Indian Spinner Ekta Bisht's father Kundan Singh Bisht, who is a retired havaldar in the Indian Army, was compelled to sell tea for accomplishment of her daughter's dream to represent the nation.

Spinner Ekta Bisht's five-wicket haul helped the side to thrash arch-rival Pakistan by 95 runs in their third match of the ICC Women's World Cup at Derby here on Sunday.

Realising that his meagre pension of Rs. 1,500 (at that time) wasn’t sufficient to sustain his family of five, Bisht, who retired from the army in 1988, continued to do the menial job for close to a decade.

“Ekta started playing cricket when she was just six. From then on, her love for the sport only grew. We were sure that she would do the country proud and she has done just that since she joined the national team in 2011,” Ekta’s father was quoted as saying by TOI.

Ekta also played cricket with boys and was the only girl to play in boy's team at her early age that shows her love towards the game.

“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,” the cricketer’s mother, Tara, added.

As Ekta made progress in cricket, her father eventually took ‘retirement’ from the small business as well.

“Our finances improved after she was selected for the cricket team as sponsors started pouring in. Eventually, my husband’s pension also increased and we could finally shut down the tea stall,” Tara said.