Against Odds, Against Norms: How India’s Daughters Conquered the World : Parag Biswas

When God created man, He also created woman. The word woman encompasses the word man — she shows him what love, care, sharing and sacrifice truly mean. The origin of every child is a mother — and she is a woman. It is rightly said that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” In the simple apron string of a woman lies a great power — a power capable of creating paradise on Earth.

Ironically, despite constituting half of the world’s population and being indispensable to its survival, women get very few special days to acknowledge their existence and contributions. One such day came on November 2 this year, when the Indian Women’s Cricket Team clinched their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

As the country erupted in celebration after the historic victory, stories began surfacing from the families, coaches, and guardians of the players — stories of hardship, perseverance, and extraordinary determination from their formative years.

It began with Shafali Verma’s father, Sanjay Verma, who revealed that the Haryana-born powerhouse had to literally disguise herself as a boy just to get the opportunity to play. Sanjay, who owns a small jewellery shop in Rohtak, had to cut her hair short, dress her like a boy, and enroll her in a boys’ academy. Every day, young Shafali faced fast bowlers who assumed she was “one of the boys” — and every day, she proved her mettle by sending their deliveries to all parts of the ground.

Vivek Sarkar, the first coach of another fierce hitter, Richa Ghosh — who hit the highest number of sixes in the tournament — recalled similar challenges. When Richa joined the Baghajatin Athletic Club in Siliguri at age six, she was the only girl in the training camp. Parents of the boys objected strongly to her admission. Yet, the coaches persisted. Richa trained with boys, faced male bowlers in the nets, and her batting flourished as a result. Even now, Sarkar regrets that many parents still discourage their daughters from taking up cricket.

Bhupinder Singh, father of Amanjot Kaur — who took a crucial catch in the final — shared similar experiences. A carpenter from Mohali, Singh remembered being mocked by neighbours and relatives when Amanjot began playing cricket with boys.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s match-winning catch did not just secure the World Cup — it symbolized the resilience, grit, and untold struggles of every woman on that field.

This victory has brought their journeys to the forefront, triggering discussions about whether it will change how women’s cricket is viewed in India — just as the Women’s Hockey Team’s silver medal at the Women’s Asia Cup 2025 in Hangzhou had sparked fresh hope for women’s hockey.

Today, the cricketers are receiving unprecedented media attention. Names like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shafali Verma have become known in every household. Yet, many fans admit they only began following the team once it reached the semi-finals.

Over the years, Indian women have broken barriers and achieved remarkable success across sports. Sania Mirza inspired countless girls to dream bigger. Karnam Malleswari’s bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics — the first Olympic medal by an Indian woman — paved the way for stars like Mary Kom, Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, and Manu Bhaker.

However, as Jayanta Bhowmick, the first coach of former Indian wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, points out, gender discrimination and societal barriers still persist. In many towns, there are no proper grounds or facilities for girls to train. Talent is abundant — opportunities are not.

Arjuna Awardee and national table tennis coach Mantu Ghosh echoed this view. She recalled the resistance she faced during her training years, and how societal expectations restricted girls to studies and household duties. While attitudes are slowly changing, progress remains gradual. She emphasized that while this World Cup victory is monumental, public memory is short. The team must continue performing consistently to keep women’s cricket at its rightful height — inspiring families to support their daughters in choosing sports as a career.

E.O.M.