Former India women’s cricket team captain Shantha Rangaswamy reflected on the challenging early days experienced by women’s players before India’s ODI World Cup final against South Africa. The team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, is poised to compete against South Africa at the DY Patil Stadium on November 2.
India emerged victorious against the seven-time champion Australia in the tournament’s semi-final and is now gearing up to face Laura Wolvaardt’s team in the championship match. Besides overcoming the strong Australian team on the field, the Indian players also battled against gender bias and discrimination off the field.
Amidst the group stage matches, the Indian players faced verbal abuse following three consecutive losses. Nevertheless, the team unified, regrouped, and advanced to the final showdown. Prior to the final, Shantha Rangaswamy recollected the tough times when women’s cricketers received minimal support from the Indian Cricket Board.
Rangaswamy, the inaugural captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, made her debut in 1976 and competed until 1991. She reminisced about the past when the women’s team traveled in unreserved train compartments and often slept on dormitory floors during match tours.
“We had to carry our own bedding and essentials, with our cricket gear strapped like backpacks and suitcases in hand,” Rangaswamy shared in an exclusive interview with PTI. She expressed happiness over the current team receiving the deserved facilities and highlighted the collaborative efforts of the players, BCCI, and state associations in elevating women’s cricket success.
Women’s cricket in India has made significant strides recently, with the BCCI introducing equal match fees for female cricketers, aligning them with their male counterparts. Although the gap in annual contracts remains, present-day players receive enhanced support and care.
Rangaswamy proudly stated, “The groundwork we laid nearly 50 years ago is now proving fruitful.” She anticipated a potential surge in girls opting for cricket in India if Harmanpreet Kaur’s team secures victory in the upcoming match.
The former captain commended former BCCI secretary and current ICC chairman Jay Shah for spearheading transformative changes in women’s cricket, such as launching the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023. She credited Shah’s reforms for significantly boosting women’s cricket, emphasizing the dividends reaped from those initiatives.
The Indian women’s cricket team has reached the World Cup final twice before, in 2005 and 2017, both led by Mithali Raj. A triumph in the ODI World Cup on Sunday would signify a landmark moment for women’s sports in India.