Harmanpreet Kaur's 171: The Redemption Song of women's cricket

Add as a preferred source on Google

Bengaluru, July 21: Imagine a girl child, who is always under the shadow of her elder brother. She wants to showcase her talent and grab attention. But opportunities are few and far between to do that. Even the odd occasions she flashes her skills get forgotten soon.

Focus is always on her brother. Parents pamper him and she gets the crumbs. Often she has to wrangle for a piece of attention and encouragement. Tired of waiting, that child - women's cricket in India - on Thursday (July 20) - decided to force enter the room and say: "So, this is what I can do. Why did you people neglected me thus far?"

The moment came through Harmanpreet Kaur's whirlwind unbeaten 171 off 115 balls against Australia in the semifinals of the ICC Women's World Cup at Derby on Thursday. It not only gifted India a berth in the final against England but also might have liberated women's cricket from several stereotypes and crude perceptions.

On an eventful Thursday (July 20), those with a sense of history might have revisited Kapil Dev's blinder (175) against Zimbabwe at Tunbridgewells in 1983 World Cup.

1983. It was a seminal year in Indian cricket. The young fans might find it hard to believe that once cricket vied with hockey and football in the popularity chart. But post 1983 win at Lord's, cricket dominated the Indian sporting scene and the grip never really slackened.

Male cricketers were elevated to demi-god status. Film stars, industralists and politicians haggled for a piece of their attention and company. Indian cricket soon became the undeniable power centre of world cricket.

Despite the dizzying heights men's game achieved on and off the field, the women counterpart struggled to stay afloat. Initially, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was reluctant to accommodate the Women's Cricket Association of India in the tent. The involvement of passionate individuals like Diana Eduljee and Shanta Rangaswamy among others kept it above the water.

In 2006, the Indian cricket board finally spread its umbrella over women's cricket. But it still struggled to come out of the prison of images - a poor sister of men's cricket and its sexist implications. Remeber, Diana Eduljee was the Kapil Dev of women's cricket. In much recent times, we have heard nomenclatures like Virender Sehwags, Virat Kohlis, Chris Gayles and Brett Lees of women's cricket.

It was as if a woman cricketer needed a male shadow to gain attention and survive. In fact, the current Indian skipper Mithali Raj highlighted this fact ahead of the Women's World Cup. Asked by a reporter to name her favourite male cricketer, Mithali replied: "Do you ask the same question to a male cricketer?"

Her answer should be taken as a slap on the male ego that still boils in the inner core of several hearts despite gender equality and women empowerment are the most talked about, propagated themes of our society.

Harmanpreet's 171 will remain a shining reminder about broadening our perspective. It's time we cheer for our women in an equally loud voice. Perhaps, 2017 is that year.

The Harmanpreets, Mithalis, Sania Mirzas, Deepa Karmakars, Saina Nehwals, P V Sindhus, they reached the top hurdling over unseen but tall social barriers. They are heroes!

OneIndia News