CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: ‘Raw talent’ is how coach Crispin Chettri defines Priyadharshini Selladurai, the Indian women’s national team’s newest goalscorer.
As a loose ball landed right in front of her feet just inside the box, the 22-year-old midfielder’s eyes lit up. She took a careful touch with her side-foot and laced it into the bottom corner to score India’s 11th against Mongolia, but her first ever for the country. Priyadharshini added another goal later, as she tapped in Pyari Xaxa’s cutback to take India’s tally to 13, marking the Blue Tigresses’ biggest win in AFC competitions.
Two goals in three matches for the country, but she hasn’t yet made a first XI appearance in the Indian Women’s League. That’s not a statement you hear every day. But her hard work in training and performances in games have made Chettri fully agree with his decision to give her a first national team call-up.
“Priyadharshini is one of our raw talents. I say that because she hasn’t gotten many minutes in the IWL. But we still believed in her talent and gave her the opportunity to be part of our national team camp. And she’s doing well here. However, playing in the IWL will help her a lot to mature as a player. I think we will have a very good number 10 in her, in the future,” said Chettri.