Every time Bharti Fulmali’s name appeared online, the conversation was not always about cricket.For years, the Vidarbha batter found herself at the center of comments about her appearance. Strangers who knew little about her journey felt comfortable questioning her looks, her personality, and even her identity. The criticism was public, constant, and often deeply personal.Yet, while those conversations played out on social media, Fulmali stayed focused on something else entirely.She kept training. She kept playing. And she continued to move closer to her goal.Today, Bharti Fulmali is part of India’s World Cup squad, a milestone that comes after years of hard work and a cricket journey that started far away from the spotlight.
A cricket dream backed by family
Fulmali comes from a middle-class family in Maharashtra. Her father worked as a school teacher and was the family’s breadwinner.When she developed an interest in cricket, she found support at home. That backing proved crucial as she began taking the sport seriously from a young age.She first picked up a bat at 13. Not long after, she earned a place in Vidarbha’s Under-19 setup. By the age of 17, she had already made her senior debut.
The power-hitter from Vidarbha
One thing that quickly made Fulmali stand out was her batting style.She became known for her ability to hit sixes and score quickly. That aggressive approach earned her the nickname “Vidarbha’s Lady Gayle,” a reference to her reputation as a powerful striker of the ball.Her performances eventually helped her secure a spot in India’s World Cup squad, one of the most significant achievements of her career so far.
The online abuse she could not ignore
Even as her cricket progressed, social media brought a different challenge.Many users targeted her because of her appearance. Some called her “a man.” Others questioned her gender identity. The comments often had nothing to do with cricket.Speaking in a video posted by Gujarat Giants, Fulmali spoke candidly about the impact of online trolling and the hurt caused by comments about her appearance.“It feels really bad when people question you based on your looks and your personality. It’s very difficult, because I’ve been seeing this for the last three years, ever since I came into the WPL. There are a lot of comments, and most of them are negative. There’s a very dark side to it.”
Why she still reads the comments
Despite the negativity, Fulmali admitted that she continues to follow reactions on social media.She said curiosity often makes her check what people are saying, whether the feedback is positive or negative.“We have matches, we have practice sessions, and we use social media. I do too – and I use it quite deeply – because I genuinely like knowing what people are saying about me, whether they’re saying good things or not. That curiosity is natural; everyone has it, and you would too, definitely.”However, she acknowledged that reading those comments is not always easy.
‘There is a lot of hate’
Fulmali did not shy away from speaking honestly about the impact of online trolling.She explained that while positive messages do exist, negative comments often dominate the conversation.“But when I look at the comment section, there’s a lot of hate. Of course, there are good comments as well, but the percentage is a bit low. So it does affect you a little; it does hurt your feelings. But now I’ve learned to deal with it.”Those words reflect the reality many sportspersons face in the age of social media, where criticism can often become personal.Thumb image: X