The stage is set as they say.
English side ready to boast a comeback while the Indian side will ascertain its dominance.
These, however, are lines for a preview.
This piece is on Lord’s. While all the charged-up articles and emotional pieces have zeroed in on Day 5, there is something we, or most of us, missed. Indian side has rightly carved a new niche for itself in the pages of history. While the world saw the men, there was significance for Indian women too.
Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Garfield Sobers, Deepti Sharma, Sunil Gavaskar, Ian Botham.
Read this again. Amidst all the greats of the game sits Deepti Sharma. In the lists of the biggest promoters of the game, there sits a girl from Agra. A sight for the cricket fan, inside me, to rejoice. A sight for the sociologist, inside me (amateur at best) to behold.
Deepti Sharma, on the fourth day of the test match at Lord’s, was the 1st Indian women’s cricketer who had the honour of ringing the bell to start the day’s play!
While the Lords’ website humbly associates the bell ringing tradition to “great honor”. An Indian woman at the home of cricket signifies, and perhaps, dignifies layers of eminence that the sport has acquired in the Indian society. The tradition of having international cricketers ring the bell at the start of the test match, began in 2007 and since has been a highlight of the games at Lords.
Read more: The 5-minute bell-ringing tradition at Lord’s Cricket Ground
While the ten English wickets on the last day got the men home, Deepti Sharma had already represented the women of India in the home of cricket. These events, when seen in proper light, add flavors to the joys.
Cricket, as a game, has its roots in Bombay on the Indian soil but the true Indianisation of the game began when players from the smaller cities, other hand a few metros, came into the spotlight and were crowned the heroes and role models of the nation.
Game, truly, went to the masses. Deepti ringing the bell at Lords takes the narrative further. The global game comes to the Indians in a true way. A girl from Agra gets the honour.
It is every cricketer’s dream to play at @HomeOfCricket. I enjoyed the bell-ringing ceremony 🔔 at the start of Day 4 in front of a big crowd on our #IndependenceDay : @Deepti_Sharma06. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/1oo5jHWckJ
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) August 15, 2021
Deepti Sharma averages a healthy 38 in the one-days and is the pillar of Indian all-rounders in the white ball game. Her 188 against the Irish side leave no doubts on the batting prowess that she possesses. The new India is aspiring, vibrant and determined.
Having said this, I sincerely hope that India soon sheds her present-day approach with regards to women’s cricket. Women’s game is not subordinate to men and should not be a show of charity or mere formality at best. Keen initiatives solely aimed at bringing new talent and avenues in the women’s game have to be explored.
Indian women’s cricket sits on an interesting stone in history. While franchises from Australia and England are inviting our players to star in their tournament, there is little talk of an IPL for women cricketers. Jemimah, Smriti and likes have called crowds in the recently concluded Hundred on the English soil. Hopefully, the Indian manifest is worth the long wait.
A peek into Deepti Sharma’s records on her birthday today:
- ONLY player to have 1500+ runs and 50+ wickets for India in Women’s ODIs.
- Highest individual score for India in ODI- 188 (v IRE)
- Highest 1st wicket partnership (320 with Punam Raut v IRE)
- Highest 4th wicket partnership ( 137 with Harmanpreet v AUS)
~Shubham Sharma (Guest Author)
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