Most people still name Parthiv Patel or Axar Patel. Sure, they’re legends. But there’s a quieter revolution happening. Go visit a dusty ground in Rajkot at sunrise or a college net in Bhavnagar on a Sunday. You’ll find them—young girls padded up, tossing balls, batting barefoot, owning the game in a way their mothers never could.
Across cities and towns, a movement is in play. Girls who once hid dreams under textbooks are now turning up with bats and grit. They’re not asking anymore. They’re taking space.
From Rebellion to Routine
Ten years ago, when a girl in Ahmedabad said, “I want to play cricket,” it sounded wild. Parents didn’t know how to react. Coaches often said, “This slot’s taken.” And neighbors? Their stares said it all.
Then around 2010, the Gujarat Cricket Association made a bold move. They opened camps for girls. Not many showed up at first. But some did. They trained in torn shoes. They borrowed kits. They stayed. Fast forward to now? They’re not asking to join. They’re running the nets. And they’re eyeing higher leagues.
Read Also: Sports World Introduces Shaheen Afridi, Named Salman Mirza
The Breakout Players
Let’s name names
Tarannum Pathan
Off-spinner from Vadodara. She trained in her backyard and went on to represent India A. Her journey is built on discipline and pure stubbornness.
Simran Shaikh
From Surat. Aggressive opening batter. She was advised to be cautious by the first coach. She didn’t. Her footwork’s fierce, her drive fierce. She’s fearless.
Priyanka Parmar
A silent storm from Ahmedabad. Left-arm spin. No theatrics. Just wickets. She trains five hours a day, quietly, while juggling studies and home responsibilities.
These girls didn’t walk into easy paths. They built their own.
Cracks in the System, and Fixes
Training for girls used to be a joke—10-minute slots after boys left, shared pads, no real coaching. Things have changed a bit.
Now you have programs like Surat Cricket Club and Baroda Academy offering sessions for girls. Reema Raj, a former state player, trains U-14 girls now. She says, “They’re better than we ever were. They just need more matches.”
Today, girls are lifting weights, running drills, analyzing footage. They’re being coached like professionals—well, sometimes. In other places, they still train with borrowed balls.
Gujarat Giants: A Turning Point
- Enter the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Suddenly, Gujarat had a team—The Gujarat Giants. And everything shifted.
- Girls saw Harleen Deol dive across the boundary. They watched Ashleigh Gardner knock sixes over the fence. It wasn’t far anymore. It was here. It was home.
- Local tournaments started using the word “league.” Girls began wearing team jerseys. They weren’t just players now. They were athletes.
Not All Smooth
Step out of the cities, and cracks remain. In smaller towns, there are no nets. Just chalk on mud. No coaches. Just brothers teaching sisters. And no support. Some girls still hide their kits under beds.
At 16, many quit. Exams. Expectations. Marriage. A cousin’s wedding always comes before the district match.
One girl, Simran, said, “They told me cricket was a hobby. But when I hit my first fifty, they printed my photo in the local paper. That changed things.” Still, for every Simran, there’s a Meena who had to give up.
Read More: How Kerala’s Villages Are Fueling Cricket’s Future
Small Wins, Big Meaning
You’ll see it in WhatsApp groups—match clips, scorecards, proud parents. You’ll hear it in school announcements—“And representing us in cricket… a girl.”
Girls in Bhavnagar are training twice a day. In Surat, girls are getting better shoes and turf time. Khelo India and other schemes help, but the real engine? The girls themselves.
In Jamnagar, a milkman’s daughter made the U-19 team. In Nadiad, a shopkeeper sponsors kits for two girls on his street. It’s small, but it’s happening.
What We Still Need
- More Matches: Girls need to play. Real games, not just practice.
- Better Gear: Helmets, gloves, shoes. Not hand-me-downs.
- Real Coaches: Not part-time trainers or fill-ins.
- Stipends: Travel, nutrition, school balance—it costs.
- Media Buzz: Celebrate them. Write about them. Give them airtime.
No more “women’s match at 2 p.m. if time permits.” Set it for prime time.
Final Overs – Not Waiting Anymore
Next time you pass a field in Gujarat, stop. That’s not just kids playing. That’s cricket. And that girl? She’s not practicing. She’s preparing. For selection. For a contract. For a dream.She doesn’t want sympathy. She wants runs.
She wants the board to have her name on it. Because Gujarat’s wicket queens aren’t coming. They’re already here. Game on. And the next Mithali? She might just be batting right now. On a cracked pitch. With borrowed gloves.But she’s batting. And she’s winning.