Breaking Boundaries

When Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Amanjot Kaur stitched together India’s historic chase of 339 against Australia — the highest in women’s cricket — they did more than script a sporting miracle. They cracked open a glass ceiling that has long shadowed Indian women’s cricket. For decades, women’s cricket has survived on the fringes — admired occasionally, forgotten often, and funded inadequately. But on that October evening, India’s women didn’t just win a game; they won belief.

In a sport still dictated by male glory, this victory stands as a turning point, a possible 1983 moment for women’s cricket. Much like Kapil Dev’s team changed the face of men’s cricket, this chase could alter the trajectory of the women’s game — provided the system does not squander the moment.

For too long, the narrative around women’s cricket has been one of near-misses and heartbreaks — 2005, 2017, 2022. Each time, they reached the cusp of greatness only to be labelled “underachievers” or worse, “chokers.” Yet, these women have persevered without the luxury of sprawling academies, prime-time broadcasts, or equal pay. Their grit, not glamour, sustains the game.

Now, the ball is in the establishment’s court. India’s women cricketers have shown that they can command global attention, fill stadiums, and ignite a nation’s imagination. What they need is sustained investment — not just in marquee tournaments like the Women’s Premier League, but at the grassroots. Young girls in small towns must see cricket as a viable career, not a rebellion against gender norms.

The psychological barrier, perhaps the hardest to break, has shifted. When a team that had never chased even 200 in a World Cup knockout scales 338 against Australia — the most dominant side in the women’s game — it is more than sport. It is a statement. It says that Indian women no longer need to play in the shadows of men’s triumphs.

But symbolism alone will not suffice. Without a roadmap for training, infrastructure, media visibility, and equal opportunity, such triumphs risk being one-off flashes rather than the beginning of a new era. The BCCI and policymakers must seize this momentum to craft a legacy, not just celebrate a moment.

The mountain of doubt has indeed moved. Whether India now builds a summit of sustained success — or lets it erode in complacency — will determine the real future of women’s cricket.