Manal bounces back after failing to make it to u-19 WC team
Cricketer Manal Chauhan discusses his journey from a school-bunking student to an India under-19 representative. Despite missing the World Cup squad, he credits his resilience and mentorship for his recent success in the Cooch Behar Trophy.
Why it matters
It highlights the mental fortitude required for young athletes to overcome career setbacks and professional disappointment.
Manal Chauhan started playing cricket for a simple reason — he wanted to bunk school.
He would tell his parents he was going to school and head off to play cricket instead. “At that time, I was not that interested in the sport, but I kept playing,” Manal told The Hindu ahead of Monday’s second youth ODI between India under-19 and the Australian colts here.
“Gradually, I realised that there were age-group divisions and that you move forward through them and then play for the State. I became very interested in it, so I started giving it my full time.”
The boy from Morena has since led Madhya Pradesh to its maiden Cooch Behar Trophy title and made his India u-19 debut on the Sri Lanka tour, scoring 150 and an unbeaten 51 in the second youth Test.
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