Introduction
The India women’s national cricket team, also known as Women in Blue,[8] represents India in women’s international cricket. It is governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) with Women’s Test, Women’s One Day International (WODI), and Women’s Twenty20 International (WT20I) status. The team has played 41 Test matches, winning 8, losing 6, 27 draw and 0 tie. They played their first international match on 31 October 1976 in a Test against the West Indies at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
The team has played 310 ODI matches, winning 168, losing 136, tying 2 and with 4 ending in a no-result. As of June 2024, India is ranked fourth in the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Team Rankings on 104 rating points. India has reached the Cricket World Cup final on two occasions, losing to Australia by 98 runs in 2005 and losing to England by 9 runs in 2017. They have won the ODI Asia Cup 4 times in 2004, 2005-06, 2006, 2008.
History of Women’s Cricket
The British brought cricket to India in the early 1700s, with the first cricket match played in 1721. It was played and adopted by Kolis of Gujarat because they were sea pirates and outlaws who always looted the British ships, so the East India Company tried to manage the Kolis in cricket and been successful. The first Indian cricket club was established by the Parsi community in Bombay, in 1848; the club played their first match against the Europeans in 1877.In 1911, an Indian men’s cricket team was formed and toured England, where they played English county teams. The India men’s team made their Test debut against England in 1932. The first women’s Test was played between England and Australia in 1934. Women’s cricket arrived in India much later; the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI) was formed in 1973. The Indian women’s team played their first Test match in 1976, against the West Indies. The first woman to lead an Indian cricket team, the first woman to win a Test series and the first woman to receive a lifetime achievement award from the BCCI, Shanta Rangaswamy was nothing short of a pioneer. India recorded its first-ever Test win in November 1978 against West Indies under Shantha Rangaswamy’s captaincy at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in Patna. Indian Batter at Cricket World Cup 2010. Mithali Raj, Captain of India Women’s cricket team
The WCAI, the governing body for women’s cricket, was affiliated to the International Women’s Cricket Council. As part of the International Cricket Council’s initiative to develop women’s cricket, the Women’s Cricket Association of India was merged with the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2006/07.
In 2021, the BCCI announced that Ramesh Powar would become the Head Coach of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team. In 2022, Indian Women script history by winning 1st series on England soil in 23 years.
The Legendary Shantha Rangaswamy: A Pioneer of Indian Women’s Cricket
The first woman to lead an Indian cricket team, the first woman to win a Test series and the first woman to receive a lifetime achievement award from the BCCI, Shanta Rangaswamy was nothing short of a pioneer. But if she had to be broken down in the simplest terms, she was a batting allrounder, who ran in with the new ball and later made others run after it.
Rangaswamy captained 12 out of the 16 Tests she played in since making her debut in October 1976. India took on West Indies across six matches and by top-scoring with 381 runs at an average of 42.33, with four half-centuries, Rangaswamy led the team to a 1-0 victory. She has also been part of 19 ODIs and in terms of time, her career spanned 15 years. She scored India’s first Test century and smashed the first six as well. While she wasn’t playing, Rangaswamy had also been a commentator with All India Radio. She was given the Arjuna Award in 1976.
Clothing And Equipment
At first women played cricket in attire that was the same with what they wore on a daily basis, much like men. The late Victorian era produced advances in womenswear, which made it easier for middle-class and upper-class women to take part in physical activity. In its 1883 catalogue, the Rational Dress Society included a cricket following suit.
Women’s sportswear became more widely available during the interwar years, and the Women’s Cricket Association (WCA) confronted an issue they dubbed “the clothing problem”. There was much discussion over what women should wear to cricket matches; those conversations can be found in the minutes of every WCA AGM from the organization’s founding until the last AGM held prior to World War II. There existed an argument between the need of female athletes to look comfortable,
Impacts of Women’s cricket
In society, women’s cricket is crucial as the activity encourages gender equality and women’s empowerment. It refuses social conventions and breaks down barriers in both society and sports. The value of women’s cricket is made clear by the following necessary variables such as:
Representation: Women’s cricket raises the information of female athletes, exposing illusions and encouraging young girls to participate in sports. Female cricket players inspire other people, especially young girls, to aim hard by working as role models.
Empowerment: Women develop confidence, determination, and leadership qualities via cricket, all of which improve their overall health. Through the development of these traits, they succeed both on and off the arena and advance society.
Conclusion
Since its modest history, women’s cricket has grown greatly, led by trailblazers like Shantha Rangaswamy, Mithali Raj, and Smriti Mandhana. Women’s cricket has shown itself to be an impressive force, rising from the ranks to achieve global fame. With rising interest, money, and media attention, the sport is positioned for unheard-of expansion and success. It’s evident that women’s cricket will continue to motivate future generations of players and fans. Women’s cricket is a living example of the strength of enthusiasm, dedication, and collaboration. It’s the tale of women who opted to push limits and shatter barriers rather than allow themselves to be bound by society expectations.We acknowledge the challenges that still need to be overcome while at the same time applauding women’s cricket’s achievements. Yet, there’s no doubt that women’s cricket will continue to flourish and achieve new heights because to the ability, dedication, and resolve of its players.”