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Mumbai's budding women cricketers look forward to Women’s Premier League
Updated On: 05 February, 2023 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Jane Borges
The stars seem to be finally aligning in favour of women’s cricket, with the first IPL for female players holding an auction next week and young talent fired up after last weekend’s U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup win. Closer home, things are hotting up from Mahavir Nagar to Juhu Church Rd
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Pacer Hurley Gala training at the Negev Cricket Academy, JVPD ground, Juhu. Gala was the only player from Mumbai to make it to the India U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup squad. Pic/Anurag Ahire
The dust has barely settled on the ground fronting Dr Baliga Nagar CHS in Dharavi, when Simran Shaikh walks out of the basti she has lived in for 21 years. She’s wearing black trousers and a tea green shirt, her hair pulled behind in a tight ponytail. A cricket bat is ensconced in her gloved hands; she lifts it to try a stroke, and cuts into the air. The neighbouring kids, who until this time, were busy playing a game of catch, stop in their tracks. One of the boys rushes towards her, “Didi, ball laun?” “Season hain?” she asks. His face drops, but only for a moment: “Nahin, tennis.” She nods, “jaa leke aa.”
Almost instantly, the children fan out—someone takes position behind the wicket; a few scatter around the rectangular block to field; even the goats seem to have cleared the path. The bowler is yet to return with the ball, but everyone knows Simran didi’s game is on. She senses their excitement, and plays along.
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