In this momentous historical achievement, it’s truly challenging to express the nation’s profound gratitude. Your leadership has forever changed the landscape, ensuring that cricket in India is no longer solely referred to as a ‘gentleman’s game.’ As we relentlessly strive for gender equality, it’s incredibly fitting that this sport now sheds that restrictive label.
Thank you for transforming women’s cricket from a period of struggle and oversight into an era brimming with hope and widespread acknowledgment. Thank you for powerfully demonstrating what it means to shatter barriers and for proving, unequivocally, that women can command their rightful place on the field. Our sincere appreciation goes to your parents, who steadfastly believed in you even when women’s cricket didn’t always receive the fervent support it deserved. And a profound thank you for sending an unmistakable message to all parents, particularly fathers: empower your daughters to chase their boldest dreams, no matter how grand.
There’s no better moment to honor the trailblazing contributions of pioneers like Shanta Rangaswamy, the first captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, and Diana Edulji, the first Indian woman cricketer inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. While many others also contributed, these two former captains laid the crucial groundwork for this glory nearly fifty years ago. They ignited passion in a generation of women in the 1970s, encouraging them to embrace the sport when pursuing one’s own path wasn’t always an option for women.
Image: India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur celebrating after winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
Image: Australia’s Jill Kennare (left) and Shanta Rangaswamy during the coin toss for the first three-day women’s test match at Ferozeshah Kotla Ground, New Delhi, on January 21, 1984.
Among those inspired was my elder sister, a talented off-spinner who idolized Shanta and Diana. With an eight-year age gap, I vividly recall riding on the back of her bicycle to her Sunday practice sessions at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground or Yashwant Stadium in Nagpur, our hometown. Beyond training with her team, she often went alone to perfect her bowling. On those solitary days, my role was to retrieve the ball and return it after each delivery. After those demanding sessions, she’d treat me to samosas, so I never had a reason to complain.
I frequently questioned why she devoted herself to the game, especially given the lack of financial rewards or substantial official support. Her usual retort was, “It’s all about passion; you wouldn’t understand.”
Image: Diana Edulji in action on the cricket field.
Recently, hearing Shanta Rangaswamy echo those very words in an interview transported me back in time. She recounted, “We would carry our own bedding, travel in unreserved or second-class train compartments, and share our kits. Yet, our perseverance stemmed from sheer passion.” This vividly brought to mind my sister leaving home, shouldering a holdall (as portable bedding was then called) and carrying well-worn T-shirts and sporting pants in a rexine duffle bag for matches in nearby towns.
She would return home sun-tanned and exhausted, often met by inquisitive neighbors who would ask why she had become so ‘kaali’ (dark). In those days, concepts like sunscreens or anti-tan face masks were completely unknown.
So, thank you, Harmanpreet Kaur and your incredible team, for this monumental World Cup victory. Your success has elevated women’s cricket from an era of struggle and neglect to one of hope, profound recognition, and undeniable inspiration. Now, girls like my sister will never again feel compelled to abandon their dreams when challenges arise; they will know their fight is truly worth it.