When we think of Indian cricket heroes, the names of stadium legends often come to mind. But the true spirit of the game is found not only under the floodlights but also in narrow streets and crowded neighborhoods, where mentors and leaders are shaping the future.
Two remarkable women, Mithali Raj, captain of the Indian Women’s Cricket Team, and Usha (a youth coach/mentor) stand as powerful examples of how cricket can transform lives and empower women and girls.
For the past five years, Usha has worked as a youth mentor, guiding children through sport and teaching lessons of resilience and hope. “I used to be short-tempered, but now I don’t even know what anger means,” Usha says, smiling as she watches children play in the narrow lanes. When she began this journey, her neighbors told her it was a “bad idea.” They worried about what people would say. Today, those same critics now admit that she is transforming children’s lives through sport.
Her courage didn’t come without challenges. Usha recalls being mocked by men in public for trying to play cricket. Yet over time, some of those who once doubted her now support her by sending their children to her sessions.
“Playing sport is transforming all our lives,” she reflects. “I wish I had a mentor when I was growing up. I would’ve grown much more as a person.” Today, she has become that mentor for the next generation.
Mithali Raj also credits her parents for her success. Her father introduced her to cricket, even though sport was not a traditional path in her family, and she has spoken often about how their support made a big difference.
“I am very fortunate to have parents who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” she explains.
Determined to prove to her father that she was no average girl, she put her heart into cricket. Now, she feels proud knowing that her father must be proud too.
She has said that playing sport gave her confidence and independence. In interviews, Mithali Raj has emphasized that sports create opportunities, both emotionally and financially, particularly for women.
“I don’t have to depend on a man for anything. I can really stand up on my own,” she says with quiet strength.
What began as a way to prove herself has become a journey of empowerment, showing how sport can break stereotypes and transform lives.
Together, the stories of these women highlight the power of sport in women’s empowerment in India. They show that empowerment happens not only in boardrooms or classrooms, but also in playgrounds, in communities, and on the cricket field. By building confidence, independence, and resilience, sport becomes more than a game, it becomes a pathway to equality.
Umm Habiba
