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Vol. XXXIV No. 9, August 16-31, 2024

TN Women’s Cricket team aims at a bright future

-- by V. Venkataramana

The foundation for women’s cricket in TN was laid way back in 1973 when a group of 14-year-old girls played cricket at the famous Don Bosco Matriculation School after convincing the Principal. Among this spirited group was Sudha Shah, who now steers the growth of women’s cricket in Tamil Nadu. Also part of this momentous event were Susan Itticheria (incidentally, the motherof Indian squash star Deepika Pallikal), Fowzieh Khalili and Sudha’s sister Meena Shah, all of whom went on to represent India in the sport. Sushil Haridas and L. Edmonds – two upcoming male cricketers of the time – coached the girls. Soon, women’s cricket saw a spurt of growth in Chennai before slowly percolating into the districts. The mushrooming talents in the new and exciting world of women’s cricket in TN attracted more coaches from a pool of male cricketers at the State and National levels. 

Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) coach and cricketer T.S. Mukundan emphasises that the development of women’s cricket in the State has been quite stable. “Women’s cricket in Tamil Nadu has been growing steadily over the years. The TNCA has been actively promoting the sport among women, organizing tournaments and leagues to nurture local talent in various age groups.” He adds that women’s cricket teams from TN participate in multiple national-level competitions like the Senior Women’s One Day League and the Senior Women’s T20 League organised by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). The milestone for the development of women’s cricket in the State came about with the formation of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Cricket Association (TNWCA) in December 1973. The organisation included two former India-level stars in men’s cricket – A.G. Kripal Singh and C.D. Gopinath – and was registered and affiliated to the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCA), which itself was a part of the International Women’s Cricket Council. The then All India Council of Sports TN Head Ms. Belulah Moses procured an official recognition of women’s cricket from the government of India. Sudha Shah, the present WCA chair, was 15 years old at the time and had just stepped into the game. (Her prodigious talent in the sport would later go on to win for her a Rs. 25 lakh award from the BCCI.) 

The TN women’s cricket team gradually began to participate in various national-level competitions, starting with the second ­National Championship. Another significant factor was the support from employers in the State to talented women cricketers, especially from banking institutions and the Southern Railway. The West Indies Women’s team was the first international team to visit the State. Soon, TNWCA began to host regular international Tests and ODIs, including two matches in the second Women’s World Cup. 

“More efforts are being made to improve infrastructure, coaching facilities and opportunities for women cricketers in the State,” says Mukundan, adding that though challenges remain, the overall trajectory for growth and popularity of the sport among women is positive. The search for finances notwithstanding, a firm foundation was laid for further growth with women’s cricket reaching schools and colleges at the grassroots level, supported by both institutions and parents themselves. This saw the emergence of new talents like Thirushkamini, Niranjana and more recently, Keerthana, who became the first TN player to be picked for the T20 format of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the national level. Thirushkamini, who debuted for India in 2006, is a three-time winner of the BCCI Player of the Year award. Niranjana, who debuted for India in 2008, played the Asia Cup in Pakistan and was named the Player of the Series. Both women brought glory to India in the World Cup tournaments as well, with Niranjana becoming the first Indian to score a century in a World Cup. 

Keerthana explains the different schemes and plans implemented by TNWCA to ensure that the State continues to develop talent. “This talent hunt is being implemented across different districts. 2017 saw the introduction of the TNCA Freyer Cup, where matches are played only on turf wickets for both ODI and T20 formats. Last year, residential coaching camps were instituted. Players travel to different districts, stay there and train. A significant feature is the appointment of dedicated coaches for each format to focus on special match tactics. Video analysis has been made a must in state-level matches to help players correct shortcomings in batting and bowling techniques,” she says. “The increasing level of participation of aspiring talents in camps as well as the Freyer Cup matches is a big boost for development.” Sudha Shah, who has been at the forefront of the growth of women’s cricket since 1973, recalls, “It was a struggle when we started. The entire team had to make do with one kit. Also, there were no grounds exclusively for women cricketers to play in, until the TNCA began organising our cricket, too. I wish I was playing in this era.” The veteran is quick to point out that at least a thousand girls turn up to the selection camps, indicating the growing popularity of women’s cricket in the State. “Currently, we’re seeing extraordinary talent in the Under 15 and Under 19 age groups. There’s talent aplenty for the future,” she exults. “The only minus point, if you want to know, is a minor lag in the fitness levels of our players. But we’re working hard to overcome the shortcomings.”

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