Rumeli Returns- A Journey worth applause

Rumeli Dhar has made a comeback to the India Cricket Team after a gap of six years.

Veteran all-rounder Rumeli Dhar was drafted in after Jhulan Goswami missed the third and final ODI of the ICC Women’s Championship series against South Africa due to a heel injury and could not continue the tour.

Update: The All-India Women’s Selection Committee has named Rumeli Dhar as the replacement for injured Jhulan Goswami. She will join the team in South Africa for the remaining three T20Is.

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) February 17, 2018

Rumeli: Back to the reckoning

The moment of glory for Indian women cricket team came in the World Cup final when India drew a tremendous support from the spectators in 2017 against England.

Interestingly, Dhar has returned to the same venue after one month short of six years where she played the World Cup Final in 2005. It was for the first time when Mithali Raj led team played in the finals of one of women cricket’s most coveted tournaments.

Rumeli was India’s third highest scorer in that tournament.

Rumeli Dhar’s T20I Debut:

Rumeli Dhar was named the player of the match in India’s first ever T20 International. Against England in 2006 in Derby, she played a memorable inning of unbeaten 69-ball 66 opening the batting.

Playing with a fighting spirit:

Dhar, donned India Jersey again after 2171 days. She played with an injured knee in 2008 Asia Cup in Colombo and was named the player of the match.

It was a long wait for Rumeli. She reminisces, “I had reached a point where I was living, but I had no life in me.”

Social media hails Rumeli Returns

India have won both times they have chased so far. Happy to see Deepti Sharma back. Have enjoyed seeing her bowl. And what a comeback for Rumeli Dhar #SAWvINDW

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 21, 2018

When I first played against Rumeli Dhar, I was an 18 yo trying to find my feet at the Senior level. I didn't bowl much to her, neither did I get to face her bowling, but I watched in awe as she ripped through Hyd's top order with the best spell of swing bowling I had seen live.

— Ananya Upendran (@a_upendran11) February 17, 2018

Hard not to cheer such players on. Incredible, incredible story. There've been so many women who're a part of this journey of women's cricket, who've been inspirations and great talents, but weren't around long enough to benefit from all the new attention.Excited to watch Rumeli! https://t.co/LWaegtKFo2

— Karunya (@kuks) February 21, 2018

Mithali Raj reads Rumi.
Harmanpreet picks Rumi.#RumeliDhar #RumeliReturns #INDWvSAW #SAWvINDW

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 21, 2018

It is. #RumeliDhar's second coming is going to be at Centurion – STRAIGHT AFTER the 2005 WC Final.#SaWvINDW #SAvIND https://t.co/CsLFI0F68w

— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) February 21, 2018

https://twitter.com/SunilYashKalra/status/966268801145802752

Dhar’s beautiful journey of perseverance is nothing short of an inspiration.