I got back from a short trip to India, and of all the conversations with family and friends, one in particular with my cousins has stayed with me and is worth sharing.
Complete cricket buffs, they had gone to watch the India vs. South Africa Women’s Cricket World Cup finals live at the stadium. They expected a good finals ‘match’, but the atmosphere they described was way different from a typical cricket match. Here is how they described it:
- The stands were full of young girls, not being taken along for the match, but leading much of the experience.
- The entire crowd gave a standing ovation to the opponent team’s captain once she got out and was walking out the pitch. Respect and recognition across teams felt different.
- Young girls with posters were heard shouting: “Jemimah Didi! Badi hokar mujhe aap jaisa banna hai!” (Jemimah sister, I want to be like you when I grow up.)
- A girl identified each player on the field by their jersey numbers. – “No. 18 pe hain Smriti..” (Smriti’s jersey is no. 18)
- Once the match ended, which was close to 1am local time, a son asked his aged father to go home and the father in turn replied: “Nahin. Ladkiyaan cup uthayengi. Uske baad hi jaaunga.” (No. I will leave only after the girls lift the trophy.)
These moments speak for themselves.
For decades, girls have been encouraged to follow men’s cricket. This time, they were watching the game for themselves. Seeing women lead and compete on an equal stage with equal stakes shifts what we have been used to for so long. That night clearly wasn’t just a Final. It was a Beginning that quietly redefined the baseline for what “normal” could look like in cricket going forward.
Hats off, Team Women in Blue!