Thailand women's cricket batter Natthakan Chantham has revealed that her attempt to master Suryakumar Yadav's trademark Supla shot has left her nursing quite a few bruises — literally. Speaking ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, Chantham admitted the experiment has been far from smooth, but remains undeterred in her admiration for the Indian maverick.

The Supla Shot Experiment

'I have tried, but it hit me everywhere!' Chantham said with a laugh in an interview with Olympics.com. Despite the painful attempts, she is clear-eyed about her priorities: 'I would love to (play it), but first I have to stick to my strengths.' The shot — a scoop played with audacious timing and minimal concern for textbook form — is emblematic of Suryakumar's unorthodox genius, and that is precisely what draws Chantham to him.

'I could see his confidence and attitude to play,' she said. 'He just times the ball. He does not care about having good technique, or (looking) beautiful. He just times the ball well, and it becomes beautiful like he is.' Should she ever meet the Mumbai Indians star, Chantham already has her question ready: 'I want a tip to play properly — what do you call that shot? Supla shot.'

Shubman Gill and the Mindset Question

Shubman Gill is another Indian batter who has captured Chantham's admiration, specifically for his seemingly effortless strokeplay. 'Effortless,' she said simply when asked what she liked about Gill's batting. 'I love someone who plays effortless and times the ball well.'

Notably, her curiosity about Gill goes beyond the technical. 'I might ask about his thinking when he plays, when he's batting,' she said. 'I want to know not about technique, but about how he plays, about the mind.' It reflects a broader philosophy in her game — one shaped as much by mental approach as by skill.

The Indian Coach Who Changed Her Batting

India's influence on Chantham has extended well beyond mere fandom. She credited Indian coach Harshal Pathak with transforming her into a more aggressive batter. 'He guided me a lot — how to build the game, how to play aggressive batting,' she said. 'He impacted my batting a lot.' This coaching relationship underlines the growing cross-pollination between Indian cricket culture and emerging cricket nations across Asia.

Cricket by Accident — and Building a Legacy

Chantham's entry into cricket was entirely unplanned. At the age of eight, she wanted to join her school's movie club, but found it already full. 'I picked up cricket accidentally,' she recalled. 'I wanted to pick the movie club, but the movie club was full and the cricket club was still empty.' From that chance beginning, she grew into one of Thailand women's cricket's most recognisable names.

Cricket's visibility in Thailand remains limited. 'They still have no idea about cricket,' Chantham said. 'When they ask me what sport I play and I say cricket, I have to say it slowly, properly. They say, "Oh, is it hockey?" And I say, "No, I said cricket, it's not hockey."' The Asian Games, however, carry real currency at home. 'When I tell them SEA Games, Asian Games, they definitely know,' she said. 'They know that's quite big for you and quite popular in Thailand.'

Asian Games 2026: No Room for Caution

With the knockout format leaving no margin for error, Chantham is emphatic about Thailand's approach. 'We have no excuse to say, "We can go easy," or "Next opportunity, next chance." We have no next chance,' she said. 'We have to go 100 per cent and no excuses.'

Beyond results, she sees Thailand's participation as a message to younger generations at home. 'The new generation have no idea about playing along with the big teams like India, Pakistan, Australia, England,' she said. 'But when we reach that, it means we message them, "You also can do it."' With the 2026 Asian Games approaching, Chantham is determined to make that message count.