PM Modi Salutes Renuka Thakur’s Mother for Her Struggles; Emotional Moment for the Fast Bowler from Himachal

Shimla, November 6 | Diary Times News Bureau

The Indian women’s cricket team, which created history by winning the 2025 Women’s World Cup, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in Delhi on Wednesday. The Prime Minister congratulated the players for their stellar performance and praised their grit, teamwork, and dedication. The interaction was filled with light-hearted moments and inspiring exchanges between the players and the Prime Minister.

During the meeting, a video of Indian pace bowler and Himachal’s pride Renuka Singh Thakur was played. In the video, Renuka is seen saying, “To keep the dressing room atmosphere light, I decided to make a peacock because it symbolizes positivity.” After watching the clip, Prime Minister Modi smiled and said, “You must have seen peacocks on your way here too.” Renuka replied, “Yes, I did—and that’s the only thing I know how to draw!”
Her teammate Jemimah Rodrigues then added playfully, “After that, she tried drawing a bird, but we told her to stop.”

The lighthearted moment soon turned emotional when the Prime Minister praised Renuka’s mother, acknowledging her strength and sacrifices.
He said, “I would like to especially bow to your mother. Despite the hardships of life, she made remarkable efforts to shape your career as a single parent. A mother who works so hard for her daughter truly deserves our deepest respect. Please convey my regards to her.”

A Journey of Resilience and Dreams

Renuka Thakur’s life has been one of determination and perseverance. She lost her father when she was just two years old. Her mother, Sunita Thakur, worked tirelessly as a Class-IV employee in the Jal Shakti Department to raise her children.

From a young age, Renuka loved cricket—often playing with boys from her neighborhood using wooden bats and cloth balls. Her uncle Bhupinder Thakur, who was then a college lecturer, noticed her talent one evening while she bowled during a local game. Impressed by her natural ability, he decided to send her to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Academy in Dharamshala, marking the beginning of her formal cricket journey.

At just 13 years old, Renuka was selected for the Dharamshala academy. Her late father, Kehar Singh Thakur, was also a cricket enthusiast who had dreamed of seeing one of his children excel in the sport—a dream Renuka went on to fulfill.

Renuka trained under professional coaches at the Dharamshala academy from 2019 and soon began representing India A, India Women Green, and the Board President’s XI. Her breakout moment came in 2019 when she emerged as the highest wicket-taker (23 wickets) in the BCCI Women’s One-Day Tournament.

She made her international debut on October 7, 2021, and delivered outstanding performances at the Commonwealth Games, taking 11 wickets in five matches. Recognizing her rapid rise, the ICC named her in both its ODI and T20 Teams of the Year, and she was also honored as the Emerging Player of 2022.

In the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore signed her for ₹1.40 crore, a testament to her growing stature in Indian cricket.

Today, the people of Rohru and her native Parsa village in Himachal Pradesh beam with pride at Renuka’s success—celebrating not just her achievements, but also the resilience and courage of the mother who made them possible.