VADODARA: When the much-awaited Women’s Premier League (WPL) took off this season, three women from Gujarat took the field for different teams. And all three were from Vadodara – the cradle of cricket that has nurtured women’s cricket since 1970s.
While Radha Yadav played for Delhi Capitals and became one of their top wicket-takers, Tarannum Pathan was a member of the Gujarat Titans team.Yastika Bhatia, a wicket-keeper batter, played for the Mumbai Indians.
“It is a matter of pride that all the three cricketers who played WPL from Gujarat were from Vadodara. It shows how much quality cricket women in Vadodara play and perform well in the tournaments,” said Pathan, who played her first WPL this year.
Daughter of an autorickshaw driver, Pathan says that her years of struggle and performance paid off when she got into WPL. “I can now buy a bigger and better house for my family,” Pathan, a fast bowler, told TOI.
“Vadodara has had a long history of producing quality players in both men and women’s cricket. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) provides us the best of facilities and coaching that makes all the difference and gives us an edge over other women players from other parts of the state,” Yadav, who shifted to Vadodara in 2015, said.
Daughter of a vegetable vendor in Mumbai, Yadav experienced a lot of struggle and she had to think twice before spending on the cricketing gear.
“With money flowing in, things have become better as I can buy the best cricketing equipment. But as a cricketer, we have to keep working harder as expectations of good performance increase,” Yadav, 23, added.
” Vadodara is practically a cricketing hub. We have had so many women cricketers playing for different clubs over the last few decades. It is inspiring,” said Bhatia.
‘Vadodara is hub for budding cricketers… it’s inspiring’
Vadodara is practically a cricketing hub as not just the commoners are crazy about this sport but the royal Gaekwad family too has patronised it. We have had so many women cricketers playing for different clubs over the last few decades. It is inspiring for us,” said 24-year-old Bhatia.
She says they also get guidance regularly from senior men and women cricketers. “And we have the best of cricketing grounds and coaching,” she adds. BCA chairman of selectors, women’s cricket, Geeta (Rajkuvardevi) Gaekwad, said: “That all the Gujarat cricketers playing in WPL are from Vadodara speaks volumes of the facilities that young women players get from the BCA.”
While Radha Yadav played for Delhi Capitals and became one of their top wicket-takers, Tarannum Pathan was a member of the Gujarat Titans team.Yastika Bhatia, a wicket-keeper batter, played for the Mumbai Indians.
“It is a matter of pride that all the three cricketers who played WPL from Gujarat were from Vadodara. It shows how much quality cricket women in Vadodara play and perform well in the tournaments,” said Pathan, who played her first WPL this year.
Daughter of an autorickshaw driver, Pathan says that her years of struggle and performance paid off when she got into WPL. “I can now buy a bigger and better house for my family,” Pathan, a fast bowler, told TOI.
“Vadodara has had a long history of producing quality players in both men and women’s cricket. The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) provides us the best of facilities and coaching that makes all the difference and gives us an edge over other women players from other parts of the state,” Yadav, who shifted to Vadodara in 2015, said.
Daughter of a vegetable vendor in Mumbai, Yadav experienced a lot of struggle and she had to think twice before spending on the cricketing gear.
“With money flowing in, things have become better as I can buy the best cricketing equipment. But as a cricketer, we have to keep working harder as expectations of good performance increase,” Yadav, 23, added.
” Vadodara is practically a cricketing hub. We have had so many women cricketers playing for different clubs over the last few decades. It is inspiring,” said Bhatia.
‘Vadodara is hub for budding cricketers… it’s inspiring’
Vadodara is practically a cricketing hub as not just the commoners are crazy about this sport but the royal Gaekwad family too has patronised it. We have had so many women cricketers playing for different clubs over the last few decades. It is inspiring for us,” said 24-year-old Bhatia.
She says they also get guidance regularly from senior men and women cricketers. “And we have the best of cricketing grounds and coaching,” she adds. BCA chairman of selectors, women’s cricket, Geeta (Rajkuvardevi) Gaekwad, said: “That all the Gujarat cricketers playing in WPL are from Vadodara speaks volumes of the facilities that young women players get from the BCA.”