Popularity in the game is not just the domain of male cricketers; PV Sindhu continues her reign at the top
MS Dhoni (Reuters Photo); PV Sindhu (Photo by Banddeep Singh/India Today)
TeaThat king has fallen. For the first time in at least four years, Virat Kohli lost the crown of India’s No. 1 player in India Today’s Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey. The former cricket captain was beaten up by retired former captain MS Dhoni, who currently plays only in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Cricketers have usually dominated the MOTN polls, but even in this non-Olympic year, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was fresh in the minds of Indians. He has recently added two silver medals in Diamond League and World Athletics Championships to his collection. The captain of the hockey team, Manpreet Singh, was among the top five, as did her women’s counterpart Rani Rampal. Meanwhile, shuttler PV Sindhu has become the undisputed No. 1 pick for a female player.
The recent Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medal only adds to her legend, with her former coach Pullela Gopichand recently hailing her as one of India’s greatest female athletes. MOTN respondents also recognized another legend, Mithali Raj, whose performance put women’s cricket on the map and who recently retired after a career spanning more than two decades. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, who won India its first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and Smriti Mandhana, vice-captain of the silver-winning women’s cricket team, also remained in their positions.
