Powar quotes Jordan in swipe at Mithali’s ‘darkest day’ rant
NEW DELHI: After stoking controversy accusing each other in their depositions to BCCI, the India women’s cricket team coach Ramesh Powar and former captain Mithali Raj have taken their fight to the social media. Powar said in his report to the Board — HT has a copy — that Raj had created a ‘tense atmosphere’ in the dressing room during the World T20 in the West Indies.
“I’m deeply saddened & hurt by the aspersions cast on me. My commitment to the game & 20yrs of playing for my country. The hard work, sweat, in vain. Today, my patriotism doubted, my skill set questioned & all the mud slinging - it’s the darkest day of my life. May god give strength,” Mithali wrote on her Twitter handle on Thursday. In response, Powar tweeted a series of photos depicting motivational message including one by NBA legend Michael Jordan that read “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
That a huge clash between the coach and the seniormost player had derailed the India team’s World T20 hopes became clear days after an eight-wicket thrashing by England in the semis.
Mithali, who had scored backto-back half-centuries against Pakistan and Ireland, had missed the final group game against Australia due to injury but India’s record run-getter was tipped to return for the semi-final. However, the team management kept her out, picking an unchanged eleven, a move that angered the player. She also received support from greats Sunil Gavaskar and VVS Laxman, among others.
Powar’s 10-page report addressed BCCI CEO Rahul Johri and GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim exhaustively deals with Mithali. Not only does it slam Mithali for her ‘lack of intent’ to score quickly and for ‘throwing tantrums’, she has also been accused of refusing to appreciate the team’s effort and creating rift in the team.
According to the report, Mithali, an opener, had “thrown tantrums” when asked to bat down the order. Powar explains the decision was made because she had struggled to score quickly in the previous games. This year, Mithali has scored 575 runs at a strike rate of 105.89. Harmanpreet (663) and Smriti Mandhana (622) have scored at a strike rate of 126.28 and 130.67 respectively. Jemimah Rodrigues scored 461 runs at 129.13 while Anuja Patil scored 226 runs at 126.25.
“Against Pakistan, chasing 134 with a 10-run headstart, we were 48 for no loss after six overs. From the sixth to the 15th over, Mithali played 24 balls and scored only 25 runs (no intent to score fast) which hurt us in run rate. (The) whole team, especially batting unit was confused and angry as what she was trying to achieve by scoring fifty and not sticking to (the) team plan,” read Powar’s report. “After Pakistan game she was moving around with an attitude, making her own group with selected few players, sitting away from the team. As head coach I was very disappointed and saddened to see a legend like her dividing a team in two groups,” it further read.
Powar had taken to Twitter on Wednesday saying he was “shocked” by media reports that leaked his 10-page submission to the BCCI and denied saying any of it. “Before (the) Pakistan match, video analyst Pushkar Sawant came to my room and said fielding coach Biju George has conveyed to him that Mithali is upset with batting order and packed her bags with announcement of retirement in the morning. I was saddened by her attitude and it gave me the impression that Mithali comes first and then India. She threw a lot of tantrums and created a lot of chaos (sic),” read the report.
“I hope Mithali stops black- mailing, pressurising coaches and putting her interest first than the team.
Earlier this week, Mithali had alleged Powar and Committee of Administrators (COA) member Diana Edulji “are out to destroy me”. In an e-mail to BCCI, Mithali had said the coach took little interest in her batting and discriminated against her.
“For instance, walking off if I am sitting anywhere around, watching in the nets when others bat but choosing to walk away when I am batting in nets, if I try to go up to him to talk starts looking into his phone and keeps walking,” Mithali wrote. “It was embarrassing and very evident to everyone that I was being humiliated. Yet I never lost my cool.”
However, Powar said in his report: “Mithali was more focused on personal milestones. She couldn’t understand her role and adapt to the team plan and played for personal milestones. Her irresponsible behaviour took my time away... It’s not always about individual milestones.”