Delhi Capitals buy Kerala allrounder for Rs 30 lakh at WPL auctionKOCHI: Over a decade earlier, a tribal girl from the foothills of Mananthavady in Wayanad district of Kerala decided to take the roadway less travelled and wished to earn a living from the video game she held near her heart, cricket.

On Tuesday, 23-year-old Minnu Mani took a huge step towards realizing her dream when she was gotten at the auctions of the inaugural Womens Premier League in Mumbai by Delhi Capitals for Rs 30 lakhs.

I havent seen 30 lakh rupees ever in my life.

I cant explain my emotions today, Minnu told TOI from Hyderabad, where she is representing South Zone in the inter-zone tournament.However, the journey hasnt been simple for Minnu.

Minnus family belongs to the Kurichiya people in Choyimoola in Wayanad, and her dad Mani CK is a day-to-day wage labourer while her mama Vasantha is a housewife.

She started playing the game with boys and cousins at the close-by paddy fields when she was 10.

She took cricket seriously when she signed up with the Government High School, Idapaddi in standard 8, where she came under the tutelage of Elsamma Baby, an athletics instructor.

Seeing her skill, Elsamma took Minnu to attend the choice trials of the Wayanad District Under-13 team.

But her parents were against the concept of her playing.

My dad didnt have a regular job.

They attempted to discourage me from playing at first and informed me that cricket was suggested for young boys.

It was just after a lot of convincing did they enable me to choose the trials.

The moment I got chosen in that trials and later got picked for a junior ladies state camp at the KCA Academy, Thodupuzha, they had a change of heart and began to support me totally, Minnu remembers her initiation to the game.She graduated to the Kerala U-16 group when she was 15 and within a year, she was in the state senior team.Minnu had to overcome a number of barriers to keep her cricketing dream afloat.

The nearest practice center for Minnu from her home was the KCA Stadium in Krishnagiri.

My day starts at 4 when I am at house.

I help my mama cook food for me.

The Krishnagiri arena has to do with an hour and a half from my home.

Considering that there is no direct bus service to Krishnagiri from my location, I change four buses to reach my practice location around 9.

By the time I get back home around 7 in the evening, I am exhausted, informs Minnu.However, Minnus trials didnt end there.

My daddy obtained money from his buddies to help play in the preliminary years.

When I started making by playing I helped him pay back the loans and built a cottage for my household.

Thats when the floods struck and destroyed a big part of my home.

Thanks to cricket, I have actually managed to restore it now, said Minnu.Minnu has actually been an integral part of the Kerala femaless team and has actually played for India A and India Blue in Challenger Trophy.

A right-arm off-spinner and a left-hand batter, Minnu was the leading run-getter in the just recently concluded Womens All-India One-day tournament with 246 runs from eight matches and likewise claimed 12 wickets.At the Delhi Capitals, Minnu will be lining up together with the similarity Jemimah Rodrigues, Meg Lanning and Shafali Verma.

And by playing for Capitals, Minnu hopes that her daily troubles will ease off and she can realise her dream of betting the country.

WPL is going to be big.

Excellent efficiencies in WPL will be noted and it can open the doors to the Indian team, she said.While most of Indias male cricketers, including the domestic ones, buy trendy cars as soon as they bring an IPL contract, Minnus aspirations are modest I will buy a scooter.

It will help me conquer the problem of taking 4 buses for practice and conserve a lot of time which i can dedicate to practice stated Minnu.