She was the unsung star of Mithali Raj’s team campaign in the recent World Cup. But on Friday evening when there was total commotion after Mithali arrived at the Hyderabad Airport, Aarti Nalge, the video analyst of the team who came with the captain, was left behind in the chaos and consequently missed an opportunity to meet Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
A silver lining in all this is that the BCCI has announced cash incentive of ₹25 lakh each to the support staff of Mithali’s team. “But the World Cup experience has been truly amazing and being my first one, it was all the more memorable,” Aarti told The Hindu.
The video analyst, who joined the Indian team in 2014, reminds that her job was to draw strategies, give inputs, prepare wagon wheels and show videos of key players of rival the teams. On being there at hallowed Lord’s Cricket Ground for the final, Aarti said it was another unforgettable experience, especially seeing the unexpected capacity crowd. “I mean, the atmosphere was electrifying,” she added.
“Yes, after losing the final, everybody was feeling low as they knew it could have been their game,” the former State cricketer said. “The best part is that all the players are already thinking about the next World Cup,” she said.
“I am the proud owner of a cricket bat autographed by the entire Indian team and the two booklets brought out for the final, autographed by all the players,” Aarti said.
On meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the video analyst said: “The entire Indian team was floored by Prime Minister’s words. And he also gave a hint of how much he was following us,” Aarti said.