There was nothing left in cricket for me after Sachin Tendulkar retired, until I saw Mithali Raj

Cricket wasn't the same after God retired, but then I found the Goddess. Photo: Reuters

I started watching cricket pretty early in my life. And because I am a 90's kid, I have seen all the great players of that time, playing and smashing sixes off the stadiums. But, no matter how many times Rahul Dravid or Anil Kumble won people's hearts with their scores, I only had my eyes for one man and one man only--Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

You know how people say that if cricket is a religion, then Tendulkar is the God? I definitely live by it. Look at his record, I definitely don't need to remind you that he's the only player to score more than 30,000 runs in all forms of international cricket. That man is truly a legend.

Everything related to Tendulkar was precious to me, even those actors who mimicked his voice! So when I heard that a biopic on my favourite player will be released soon, I knew I wouldn't have the heart to sit through it, even if it meant watching the legend in all his glory.

Also Read: Man's game no more, Indian women's cricket team have just set a new ODI world record!

Because the movie will only remind me of the night India won the World Cup in 2011. Remember that iconic moment when Yusuf Pathan carried him on his shoulders along with the entire team and took a round of the stadium? 

So when my God retired four years ago, I knew I will have to retire from watching cricket as well. And I did, I developed an aversion to the game after he decided to call it a day following his 200th test. 24 years of joy of watching him play wasn't there anymore.

However, things took a drastic turn for me when I heard about Mithali Raj and how at 2013 Women's World Cup, she starred as the No.1 Cricketer in the one day international (ODI) chart among women. Watching her play made me fall in love with Women's Cricket and I have been following it ever since.

Also Read: Why it's time to start talking about Mithali Raj, instead of Virat Kohli

Raj is a woman of great talent. I mean she's currently World No.2 at the current ODI rankings and recently lead the team to win the quadrangular series, that says something. The 34-year-old player is the second highest run scorer in women's international cricket and only second woman cricketer to surpass 5,500 run mark!

In a country where women's cricket is still given the kind of attention and funding men's cricket gets, Raj has continued to achieve what other young players can only dream of. She lead the women's team at the 2005 World Cup, reached the finals to play against Austalia, and became the highest run-scorer for India. In the next World Cup, in 2009, she continued her feat of being the highest scorer.

Also Read: I hate cricket, but I can't help but love Virat Kohli. Here's why

And I'm hoping that this Women's Cricket World Cup, that coveted trophy will be ours. You know why I'm so confident? Because Captain Raj will make sure our women in blue smash all records and make us proud. When my other friends cheer for Virat Kohli, I just think of Raj's amazing sixes!

All I'm saying is my God may have retired and I may never see him play, but I definitely have my Goddess to count on and never lose hope in the game.