Not too long ago, in July, I wrote an article about girls who play cricket. I mentioned that it is a topic very close to my heart. Twenty years back, when I was in my early teens, I desperately wanted to play cricket. I don't understand how or why no one in my family ever paid any heed to it, or that why they didn't even buy me a cricket bat, (I have the same dilemma about chess, nobody ever bought me a chess set) even though I got lots of thoughtful gifts quite a few times a year from my close knit extended family. Anyway, after I finished college and came to the US, I basically gave up all my hopes of ever playing cricket. Nobody cares about cricket here, I assumed.
But, thanks to globalization, I saw changes.
the first one was watching cricket World Cup at home in 2011 and also at work! The Software Industry is full of expat Indians, and with them they brought cricket over to the Western Hemisphere. The second big thing was the All Stars match in 2015 where the "boys we grew up with", namely Sachin, Rahul, Wasim, Steve, Shane, Kalu, Murali, Jonty, Shoaib, etc etc came all the way to play here. At the Dodgers Stadium where we saw a blending of cricket and baseball, it opened a new horizon. We bought a cricket bat here and I anticipated a new era of playing cricket in the US.
Fast forward to end of 2017. Many things are going on in my life right now and all of them are pretty stressful. I did not want to add another stressor to it. But a few days back I saw a post on our neighborhood web page saying "Play Cricket". There has been a talk of opening our local cricket club (again, thanks to expat Indians) and the person who thought about it has been asking people to join. I immediately sent a note asking if women can join too. He said that I can't joint he team, but I can play/practice with them. So be it! My most handy male ally, aka Arnab joined the team and I found my way in. Initially I was not added to the Whatsapp group but like a friend of mine says, I don't have the problem of ever feeling neglected because I don't let people neglect me. I asked this guy specifically to add me to the group. I attended the first match yesterday, the first ever of the club, played miserably, because I have not played in years and lost my reflexes, but I captained the winning team and kept wicket for the first time in my life!
The ball has started rolling, and I have found my ground. If I did not take this chance, I would never be able to tell my future daughter that she can be whatever she wants to. Also, I owed it to myself, to make sure that I can fulfill my dream. I don't have to worry about "if I were a boy" or "if only our society let us play". Now the control is in my hand. I don't have to ask anyone to buy me a bat, nor do I have to worry about upcoming exams. Yes, so far I am the only girl in this club, because sometimes we don't have an option but to be the first :) Hopefully, I will be able to inspire a few more in my lifetime.
Some serious batting practice is coming up soon!!
PS: Marry wisely, because a good partner can not just enrich your daily life, but also immensely help in making your dreams come true!
But, thanks to globalization, I saw changes.
the first one was watching cricket World Cup at home in 2011 and also at work! The Software Industry is full of expat Indians, and with them they brought cricket over to the Western Hemisphere. The second big thing was the All Stars match in 2015 where the "boys we grew up with", namely Sachin, Rahul, Wasim, Steve, Shane, Kalu, Murali, Jonty, Shoaib, etc etc came all the way to play here. At the Dodgers Stadium where we saw a blending of cricket and baseball, it opened a new horizon. We bought a cricket bat here and I anticipated a new era of playing cricket in the US.
Fast forward to end of 2017. Many things are going on in my life right now and all of them are pretty stressful. I did not want to add another stressor to it. But a few days back I saw a post on our neighborhood web page saying "Play Cricket". There has been a talk of opening our local cricket club (again, thanks to expat Indians) and the person who thought about it has been asking people to join. I immediately sent a note asking if women can join too. He said that I can't joint he team, but I can play/practice with them. So be it! My most handy male ally, aka Arnab joined the team and I found my way in. Initially I was not added to the Whatsapp group but like a friend of mine says, I don't have the problem of ever feeling neglected because I don't let people neglect me. I asked this guy specifically to add me to the group. I attended the first match yesterday, the first ever of the club, played miserably, because I have not played in years and lost my reflexes, but I captained the winning team and kept wicket for the first time in my life!
The ball has started rolling, and I have found my ground. If I did not take this chance, I would never be able to tell my future daughter that she can be whatever she wants to. Also, I owed it to myself, to make sure that I can fulfill my dream. I don't have to worry about "if I were a boy" or "if only our society let us play". Now the control is in my hand. I don't have to ask anyone to buy me a bat, nor do I have to worry about upcoming exams. Yes, so far I am the only girl in this club, because sometimes we don't have an option but to be the first :) Hopefully, I will be able to inspire a few more in my lifetime.
Some serious batting practice is coming up soon!!
PS: Marry wisely, because a good partner can not just enrich your daily life, but also immensely help in making your dreams come true!
