Within the next decade, the Women’s IPL could see players coming out of this Punjab police Constable’s Academy that was born out of a father’s dream to provide every opportunity for his daughter to become a cricketer and has put seven budding cricketers on the path of success.
Nestled in Punjab’s Dharoki village, a one-acre piece of farmland is the anvil for 18 girls as they practice under the keen eyes of Constable Gulab Singh Shergill and their coach. Dressed in white trousers and sweatshirts with their names and number emblazoned on the back of their shirts, a la state or national level players, these are just neighbourhood girls except that they have the ambition to play for the country. An ambition instilled by Mr Shergill who also vows to fulfil their ambition. He has also covered some distance in that direction – seven of the 14 girls from his academy have already been selected to represent Patiala, in the Under-15 inter-district cricket tournament in Punjab.
UNFULFILLED DREAMS
It all began amid the Covid-19 lockdown when the Punjab Police Constable decided to keep the village children occupied with sports. Mr. Shergill always wanted to be a cricketer, but fate had other plans. At six, he lost his father, leaving him with limited resources unable to pursue his passion.
“There were no coaches or even cricket fields in my village where I could learn as a child. I loved watching the matches on TV but never got to swing the bat and ball on the 22-yards,” Shergill told Indian Masterminds in an exclusive conversation.
SO CAN I
Before joining the police force, Mr. Shergill was a farmer. He crossed state borders to harvest crops. While visiting former Indian cricketer Munaf Patel’s village in Gujarat, he noted how budding cricketers trained on fields.
“An idea clicked — why not construct a similar set-up in my village? If Munaf Patel could make it to the Indian team training on village grounds, why can’t my kid?” thought he.
Things did not take shape overnight though. In fact, it was not until the March 2020 lockdown that his plans took shape. He took permission from his mother to convert his fertile farmland into a coaching ground for his daughter and other kids, who were suddenly stuck in the lockdown. Mr. Shergill contacted Mr. Abhishek Jalota, the cricket coach of Punjab Public School, Nabha, to etch out a plan.
VILLAGE ACADEMY
Soon 18 girls between the age of 9 and 14 became dedicated trainees at the Shergill farm.
Mr. Shergill recalls: “I harvested the crop of around 1 acre and then left it barren permanently for the kids to play cricket on it.”
Initially, both boys and girls came, but as winter approached, only the girls continued. “Their passion made me decide to train them to achieve the national colours,” he said.
FREE TRAINING
“These kids are serious. They want to be international cricketers. I coach them alongside Mr. Jalota for free,” Mr Shergill said. His salary and farming money — all of it goes into buying jerseys and equipment, besides a good meal for diet. He fulfils his duty as a constable by day or night and manages the training whenever not on duty.
“I didn’t want the girls’ preparation to suffer because of my duties, so, I hired professionals. I keep a close eye and take care of overalls,” he shared.
The families of the budding cricketers know their daughters are at the Shergill farm and are safely training under the good constable. They have full faith in him and his efforts have bore results.
GIVING WINGS
Mr Shergill is all for exposure for his girls. He has got their passports ready. “I keep the players’ documents secure at home along with copies of their school certificates and other IDs,” he said.
Seven of his players have already made it to the district’s under-15 team. Thanks to everyone’s dedication, he says. He knew competitive matches would put the girls on the official cricket radar.
Dharoki, the once unknown village is now on the map, thanks to these girls and their mentor’s dream.
Mr. Shergill doesn’t require any financial assistance from anyone… all that he requires is that his story reaches famous Indian cricket players who could come and spend a day with these young girls and share their experiences and guidance with them!
