Lalhruaimawia Ralte Exclusive: Rise of Cricket in Football State - Mizoram Captain on Struggle, Hope and Journey

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If one ever takes a journey through the length and breadth of the country, one shall have a common vision, that is kids and youngsters playing cricket on grounds in almost every corner.

But North East comes with an exception. Amid the overwhelming dominance of cricket in India, this part has traditionally nourished Football as primary sport and that is massively evident. The North East has produced elite footballers of the nation, but recently, it has started to find itself in the landscape of Indian cricket.

It takes around 55 minutes to reach Aizawl, the capital city of Mizoram if one takes a flight from Kolkata. Although the distance by road is around 1,500 km, going airborne can take one to the serenity of Mizoram within an hour as it flies across Bangladesh. The city of Aizawl is a beautiful one and one can only see the prevalence of football, which sometimes gives a pleasant cultural shock.

In the midst of the Lushai hills, MyKhel caught up with Lalhruai Ralte, who is the captain of the Mizoram Cricket Team and has been serving his state distinctly for a decade or so.

Ralte, who has been the flagbearer of Mizoram cricket, opened up on his journey, the growth of cricket in Mizoram, some special meets and the road forward.

The Journey

Ralte was born in Aizawl, fell in love with cricket after watching the 1999 World Cup. The heroics of Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly attracted him towards cricket and he started his journey from there.

"I started cricket after watching the 1999 World Cup. We used to make wood and play like that. I played in the first division and the Mizoram team used to tour in Guwahati, Nagaland. Back in those days, we didn't play domestic cricket. I got selected for Mizoram in 2007 at the age of 16 years," Ralte says.

In a massive irony, Ralte says they used to practice on football fields and didn't even get proper time for practice as footballers used to intervene for their purposes.

"We used to play in a football ground. And before we finished the match, the footballers used to come and the game is gone. They would get us out of the ground even before the match finished," Ralte says.

The Struggle and Growth of Mizoram Cricket

The Mizoram captain has grown in stature and the recent affiliation to BCCI has changed the dynamics of cricket in the North East region. And reminiscing the old memories, Ralte speaks about the struggles they had in the early days but admits things have changed in recent times.

"Actually, it's a hard journey for especially a new guy. We were struggling a lot, especially the first two years, but now I think we are settling and giving some good performances. So things have turned around for us. Many young kids are now interested in cricket, which is a great thing for Mizoram cricket."

The talks with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Ralte also reveals talking with some of India's top stars. The Mizoram captain had a talk with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and got some key lessons from the stars of Indian cricket.

"Of course. I've been to NCA. I met India Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. I met all of them. Every big player says the same thing. Keep it simple, have patience, and work hard. Hard work will pay off. The level of cricket is very different in Mizoram and like an elite state. In the skills, they are two or three steps ahead of us. But when it comes to the match, it's not about skills. It doesn't matter. It's all about mindset."

Ranji Season Hopes

Due to the monsoon in Mizoram, the pre-season of the team will take place in either Delhi or Kolkata. Last season, the Mizoram team did well in patches in domestic cricket. They registered a victory over Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the Ranji Trophy Plate Group, the Mizoram team registered two victories over Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. They were on course to play the Plate Final but lost to Meghalaya in the semis. And Ralte says they are looking forward to taking another step forward in the upcoming season.

"Last season, we played good cricket. We were favourites to win the semifinal but at the last moment, things changed for us. but I think this year we will do much better."

Support from BCCI

The unwavering support from BCCI has changed the landscape of cricket in Mizoram. And Ralte acknowledges the help from the apex body. From the days of disdain, the players in Mizoram have found financial security, recognition and exposure to elite infrastructure.

"The support [from BCCI] is amazing. We never thought of this kind of support, especially financial support. Before we became associate members of BCCI, the Mizoram Cricket Association used to receive funds from the Sports Council. Just eight lakhs in a year. How difficult is it? Now everything is managed by BCCI and everything is systematic."

The Sun rises comparatively earlier in the state of Mizoram. Although there is an everpresent hide and seek between the Sun and Clouds, the Sun of Mizoram Cricket is gradually rising, and Ralte and others are paving the stepping stone for the brighter future.