From Form to Face: The Unwarranted Targeting of Bharti Fulmali

The Indian audience is extremely passionate when it comes to cricket. They will leave no stone unturned in admiring and worshipping their favourite cricketers, engaging in banters and can even go to any extent to defend them. However, a certain section of people fail to realise their boundaries, the moment they do not like a player. They fail to comprehend that while it is okay to criticise somebody based on their performance, logically point out their flaws and even have questions regarding their potential – it is never okay to stoop down to comments regarding superficial things like their looks or appearance – things that have absolutely nothing to do with the cricket that they are playing.

The Women’s T20 World Cup is just around the corner and naturally there is a lot of buzz around it. Some performances in the bilaterals ahead of the World Cup have impressed whereas others have certainly raised concerns. However, trolls are already doing the rounds on social media- with some really questionable tweets and one person that has once again come under the radar is Indian finisher- Bharti Fulmali.

While it is absolutely okay to question her form and contribution so far, is it really wise to talk about and sneer about the way she looks? The choice of words and random assumptions made on her cannot even be mentioned. Raising questions on her gender just because she does not fit into the feminine mold, calling her by all kinds of derogatory terms, even asking her to stay away from the “Women’s” Cricket team – is that fair on someone who is also representing our nation and trying her absolute best to leave a mark?

Fulmali’s international comeback 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 Gujarat Giants. She also had a promising campaign last season, smashing 133 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 172.72 – which was a massive improvement from the inaugural WPL season in 2023. She had made her debut against England in Guwahati back in 2019, but her comeback to the international scene reflects hard work and dedication.

Hence, when people reduce her to her looks and raise questions regarding things that have got nothing to do with her cricket, it very naturally does end up affecting one at some point. “It feels really bad when people question you based on your looks and your personality. There are a lot of comments and most of them are negative. There’s a very dark side to it”, Fulmali had said in a video on Gujarat Giants back in February 2026. “When I look at the comment section, there is 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.”

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, for no apparent reason. The entire point is that constructive criticism can shape careers but baseless, personal attacks can scar them; even if they refuse to show it. Not every player will be at their peak 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.

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