"I realized cricket was my calling as a sport as I trained hard with Stallions Cricket Academy in Surrey and experimented with batting and bowling."-Mannat Hundal.
It is not common for someone to be born and raised in Canada and pick up the sport of cricket. Recently, cricket’s appeal in Canada is increasing and we have more kids wanting to learn the sport. Surrey-born and raised Mannat Hundal is one such young female athlete who opted for cricket over the conventional sport of basketball, soccer, hockey, baseball, or swimming.
Her love for cricket started at the age of 11 when she watched her brother play the game and figured this doesn’t look all that hard. Funnily enough, she took up the bat and the rest is history. Hundal says "Irealized cricket was my calling as a sport as I trained hard with Stallions Cricket Academy in Surrey and experimented with batting and bowling."
Hundal’s grit, hardwork, perseverance, and passion all came together when she exhibited exemplary prowess on the international stage. Currently only 15, she played in the Women’s South American Championship in Brazil. Her stats at the tournament were 4overs-19runs-1wide, 4overs-1run-2wickets-1wide, and 3overs-12runs-2wickets-2wide. In the match an overjoyed Hundal describes “I only gave 1 run and got 2 wickets and I became the player of the match.”
Not only is she an avid and a gifted cricket player but she is also a bright student who has excelled in her studies throughout. She did her schooling at Khalsa and Heath Traditional Elementary. Currently she attends Seaquam Secondary and is a Grade 11 student. As a career path, upon graduation from high school she hopes to pursue Sciences with a focus on biochemistry and forensics in order to fulfill her dream of becoming a science technician.
Even though, she has played many different roles on and off the field the one that speaks to her most is of a leg spinner. She is inspired by cricket legends such as Shane Warne, K L Rahul, and Ravindran Jadeja.
Hundal says this is just the beginning for her in the sport of cricket and she wants to make her mark by playing all the new league franchises that are opening up for women’s cricket. With the passion, skill, and determination that Hundal has got it wouldn’t come off as a surprise if we see her play at the World Cup of Cricket.