I’VE GAINED A LOT OF PATIENCE

CRICKETER HARMANPREET KAUR SEES PANDEMIC AND LOCKDOWN AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The ongoing pandemic and the long months of the lockdown have been a learning experience for the captain of the Indian Women’s T20 Cricket Team, Harmanpreet Kaur. “I’ve gained a lot of patience,” she says, as staying indoors and unable to practice were quite tough for her. Kaur, 31, admits that the initial days “brought in many apprehensions”. But, now, she is looking forward to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, scheduled in February. “I’m desperately waiting to get back on the field and play matches, once things are normal,” she adds.

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death shocked many, including

Kaur, who also tweeted to share her grief over his untimely demise. Talking about the pressures of a job and challenges in life, she says, “The journey towards success is not very easy — some succeed in one go and some have to wait. When we give second chances to people and things in life, then why not ourselves? If we learn to forgive and love ourselves, life will seem easier. Humans tend to rush sometimes, but it’s okay to wait and be kind to yourself. It’s important to handle success and failure with an open heart.”

Ask her if there was ever a time when she was affected by circumstances, and the cricketer says, “There have been times when I have felt a million emotions — both good and bad. Emotions are irrelevant after a while, and if we allow them to overpower us, then they have the tendency to drown us. Emotions are good if put in the right place. I learned quite early in life that letting go is the best way to be happy. Not everyday will work out the way we want, so we have to just keep moving forward.”

Humans tend to rush sometimes, but it’s okay to wait and be kind to yourself. HARMANPREET KAUR, ACTOR