Women's cricket in India is finally getting the recognition and respect it deserves, after years of being an afterthought to the men's team.
With the Indian women's cricket team's international performances improving a lot, a positive signal for the young generation of women to feel confident and try their innings with Cricket.
So is the case with the women cricket in Jammu Kashmir that could also register its presence recently by the latest selection of Jasia Akhtar from Shopian, who was selected by Delhi Capitals for the inaugural Women's Premier League for Rs 20 lakh during the auction a few days back. The T20 tournament starts on March 4th.
When Akhtar was eight years old, she held a bat that belonged to her cousin and accompanied him to the neighbourhood cricket fields. Each time she hit the ball and heard the boys running and screaming after a catch, her love for the game grew. Because Akhtar is a woman, society did not accept her, and neighbours constantly advised her family to teach her household chores instead of sending her out to play cricket. But she persevered with Earlier in 2021-22, the BCCI had chosen a girl from Jammu to compete in the Women's Challenger Trophy who had represented J&K in the National Women's U-19 Tournament 2021-22. The teams for the Challenger Trophy are chosen directly by BCCI selectors based on their performance in the previous national tournament in Bhubaneswar.
Bawandeep's performance drew the attention of national selectors with double-digit scores in all matches, including two match-winning half centuries. Such good news indicates that women's cricket in Jammu Kashmir has come a long way keeping pace at national level.
The Indian women's cricket team has been around for over 40 years, but it wasn't until the mid-2000s that they gained some acclaim. Prior to that, the team had played only a few games, and their performances were frequently overlooked by the media and the general public. However, the team's fortunes have improved in recent years, and they are now one of the top teams in the world. The Indian women's cricket team has recently achieved some spectacular results. In March 2020, the Indian women's cricket team won their first T20 World Cup title, defeating Australia in the final. This was a watershed moment for Indian women's cricket, as it was the country's first major ICC trophy. 2019 Under-19 Women's T20 Asia Cup victory: In 2019, the Indian under-19 women's cricket team won the T20 Asia Cup by defeating Bangladesh in the final. The tournament was won by an Indian team for the first time. In the final, the Indian women's cricket team defeated Bangladesh to win the 2018 Women's Asia Cup. This was India's sixth Asia Cup championship and first since 2012. These accomplishments demonstrate Indian women's cricket's rapid progress in recent years and provide a glimpse of the team's potential for future success.
Their victories have instilled new zeal in them and boosted their morale. Several young players are rising through the ranks and making their mark. Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues have become household names in India, inspiring a new generation of young girls to participate in the sport. The Women's T20 Challenge, a tournament that takes place alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL) and features some of the best players from around the world, is one of the reasons for the team's success. This has provided Indian players with the opportunity to play alongside and against some of the world's best players, helping to raise the standard of women's cricket in India. Women's cricket was once considered a poor cousin to men's cricket, with players having to make do with subpar facilities and equipment, which is no longer the case.
