On a hot and humid Friday morning, the Spartan Cricket Academy Ground in Jodhpur geared up to welcome some of the most talented women cricketers of Rajasthan for the inaugural Rajasthan Royals Women’s Cup. Carrying dreams in their eyes and kit bags on their shoulders, nearly 150 girls from the farthest corners of our home state arrived at the trials, hoping to impress the Royals’ Head of High-Performance Operations Romi Bhinder by showcasing their skills. They had the focus, they had the potential. And they were determined to put their best foot forward. Everything else seemed irrelevant, even the sweltering September weather that posed a challenge on its own.
From young and upcoming cricketers to seasoned professionals, there was no dearth of talent at this day-long trial session. And it is what made it even more difficult for the selection panel to narrow down to just 90 from a vastly talented pool of 150+ players. These shortlisted players were then drafted into six teams to represent the major cities of Rajasthan - Ajmer Blazers, Bikaner Strikers, Jaipur Warriors, Jodhpur Gladiators, Kota Mavericks and Udaipur Thunderbolts. For the selected ones, the excitement was palpable on their faces as their names were being called out one by one. But even for those who weren’t, there was plenty to take away from the whole experience, including detailed, personal feedback on their skill set, and positive learnings from the coaches of an IPL franchise to help them carve out a blueprint for their future.
The stage was set. Day 1 of the tournament kicked off with Jaipur Warriors and Udaipur Thunderbolts clashing in a blockbuster opener. 21-year-old Warriors batter Arju Bishnoi lit up the first innings with her exquisite stroke-play, scoring the competition’s first half-century. She then returned to contribute in the field as well, picking a wicket and affecting a run-out that changed the momentum of the game. Thanks to her all-round contribution, the Warriors dominated their way to a big win in the opener. There was little doubt around who the Player of the Match would be. And as young Arju went up to collect her award, a proud father cheered and clapped, with a heartwarming smile on his face and a deep sense of pride that reflected in his gleaming eyes. We asked Arju what or who inspired her on the day, and she let out a little secret.
“I’m mainly a bowler but my father always tells me that I bat well. I don’t feel confident about it. Today, my father came here to watch me play and that inspired me while I was batting. I would like to dedicate this Player of the Match award to him as he’s my favourite batter.”
While on one hand, players like Arju put up an exhibition of quality batting, Bikaner Strikers’ 14-year-old Maina Siyol’s wily leg spin caught everyone’s attention as soon as she came onto bowl. With a bag full of deceptive tricks, she ran through Ajmer Blazers’ line-up to pick up the only hat-trick of the tournament. It was a sight to behold as her teammates, who barely knew her until the day of the trials, ran towards her and hugged her, celebrating the historic feat that she’d just achieved. Maina didn’t just find admirers on the field, but also outside of it, as Bhinder & co. cheered her on from the sidelines, watching her create history. They say, save your best for the last. And the end of the first day did bring the best and most interesting match of the tournament. We’ve seen plenty of tied matches, we’ve seen some Super Overs, but we’ve rarely seen a double Super Over, even at the international level. Kota Mavericks and Jodhpur Gladiators faced off in the final league match of the day to produce an edge-of-the-seat, unexpected thriller featuring two Super Overs. In what was a see-saw contest all the way, it looked like the Gladiators were cruising to an easy win at one point, but the Mavericks clearly had other plans and they dragged the match right till the final ball of the second Super Over. And as they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, the noisy spectators at the ground were up on their feet applauding, as the commentator excitedly announced Mavericks as the winners.
The next day, Maina Siyol was once again among the wickets, registering impressive figures of 2/11 in 3 overs against the Mavericks, who were still riding high on their winning momentum from the previous day. With two Player of the Match awards in consecutive matches, Maina stood out as one of the Strikers’ star performers as they went on to add another ‘W’ to their tally. She may have been reserved with her words when we spoke to her after her hat-trick performance, but the following day, she was out there, once again making her actions do the talking. And it was enough. Enough to be a testament to the growing cricketing talent in Rajasthan that is just waiting for the right opportunities.
With 2 wins in 2 matches, the Strikers became the first finalists of the Women’s Cup. All other five teams pocketed one win each, meaning everything boiled down to their respective net run rate at the end of the league stage. With a superior NRR thanks to a big win in their first game, the Warriors finished as the second-best team, setting up a mouthwatering final against the in-form Strikers.
The following morning, the groundsmen immediately got down to preparing the wicket for what was going to be a finale played under the lights. The rollers came into play, the scent of freshly painted white lines enveloped the pitch, with excited onlookers being drawn to the venue as the time came closer. At the other side of the ground, players from the rest of the participating teams assembled for a ‘masterclass’ with Mr. Bhinder. In this interactive session, the group reflected on the learnings from the tournament and listened patiently, as Mr. Bhinder shared his gems of advice that will not only help them become better cricketers going forward, but also better human beings who can leave a lasting impact on society through the sport.
At the picturesque Spartan Cricket Academy ground surrounded by ‘Khejri’, Rajasthan’s state tree, the setting sun faded into the background, as both finalists made their way to the middle. Strikers captain Suman Meena, who had been confident about her bowling line-up throughout the tournament, won the toss and decided to bowl once again. And while Warriors’ Arju put up a strong fight by top-scoring with 26, the Strikers were all over their opponents, restricting them to 101/6 in 20 overs.
And what’s a finale without some riveting drama? The chase began with Strikers losing an opener on the third ball, opening up the floodgates for the Warriors bowlers. At the 18th-over mark, they were only 6 runs away from victory, but had just lost their 8th wicket. It was still anybody’s game, and the crowds were beginning to feel the tension in the air. Among those anxious spectators were two Royals, Riyan Parag and Shubham Garhwal, animatedly discussing the game amongst themselves whilst also keeping one eye on the game. They watched on alongside players of both teams waiting in anticipation at the boundary line, as the match drew to a nail-biting finish. Tailender Anamika Dhabhai hit the winning runs, a slog sweep to deep midwicket that saw the Strikers dugout erupt in joy and run towards their teammates on the ground. Hugs, smiles and a celebratory dance took centre stage, as the DJ played the famous ‘Champion’ song to bring the curtains down on the inaugural Women’s Cup.
And what’s a finale without some riveting drama? The chase began with Strikers losing an opener on the third ball, opening up the floodgates for the Warriors bowlers. At the 18th-over mark, they were only 6 runs away from victory, but had just lost their 8th wicket. It was still anybody’s game, and the crowds were beginning to feel the tension in the air. Among those anxious spectators were two Royals, Riyan Parag and Shubham Garhwal, animatedly discussing the game amongst themselves whilst also keeping one eye on the game. They watched on alongside players of both teams waiting in anticipation at the boundary line, as the match drew to a nail-biting finish. Tailender Anamika Dhabhai hit the winning runs, a slog sweep to deep midwicket that saw the Strikers dugout erupt in joy and run towards their teammates on the ground. Hugs, smiles and a celebratory dance took centre stage, as the DJ played the famous ‘Champion’ song to bring the curtains down on the inaugural Women’s Cup.
