The Indian public is extremely passionate when it comes to cricket. They will leave no stone unturned to admire and adore their favorite cricketers, joke around and may even go out of their way to defend them. However, a certain section of people do not realize their limits when they do not like a player. They don’t understand that while it is okay to criticize someone for their performance, logically point out their flaws and even have questions about their potential (it is never okay to stoop to comments about superficial things like their looks or appearance), things that have absolutely nothing to do with the cricket they are playing.
The Women’s T20 World Cup is just around the corner and naturally, there is a lot of buzz about it. Some performances in bilateral meetings leading up to the World Cup have impressed, while others have certainly raised concerns. However, trolls are already circulating on social media, with some really questionable tweets and one person who has once again flown under the radar is Indian finalist, Bharti Fulmali.
While it is absolutely fine to question his form and contribution so far, is it really wise to talk about and make fun of his appearance? The choice of words and the random assumptions made about her can’t even be mentioned. Raising questions about her gender just because she doesn’t fit the female mould, calling her all sorts of derogatory terms, even asking her to stay away from the “women’s” cricket team, is that fair to someone who also represents our nation and does everything she can to make a mark?
Fulmali’s international return follows her impressive performances in the Women’s Premier League 2026, where she scored 92 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 191.66 for the Gujarat Giants. He also had a promising campaign last season, making 133 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 172.72, which was a huge improvement over the inaugural WPL season in 2023. He had made his debut against England in Guwahati in 2019, but his return to the international scene reflects hard work and dedication.
Therefore, when people reduce her to her appearance and raise questions about things that have nothing to do with her cricket, it is very natural that it ends up affecting us at some point. “It feels very bad when people question you about your appearance and your personality. There are a lot of comments and most of them are negative. There is a very dark side to this,” Fulmali had said in a video about Gujarat Giants in February 2026. “When I look at the comments section, there is a lot of hate. Of course, there are good comments too, but the percentage is a bit low. So, it affects you a little bit, it hurts your feelings.”
While this article is not written in an attempt to turn it into a gender war of any kind, because some male cricketers like Shubman Gill also face the same thing, for no apparent reason. The point is that constructive criticism can shape careers, but unfounded personal attacks can scar them; although they refuse to prove it. Not every player will be at their best at all times and not every journey will follow a linear path. But, as viewers, we must know where to draw the line. Because at the end of the day, cricket is about skill, temperament and contribution, not conformity to a preconceived image.