JUST a couple of months ago, Sneh Rana was grappling with a personal tragedy. She had lost her father, a few days after being named in the Indian Test team. His only dream was watching his daughter represent India in international cricket. The proud daughter paid, perhaps, the most apt tribute to the departed soul with a heroic rescue act for the country. Sneh was the toast of the nation at Bristol as she saved the one-off Test against England with an awesome show of grit and gumption. The draw she won for India from a hopeless situation now holds a great potential of changing the fortunes of women’s cricket in India. The Powerpuff Girls from India have arrived and how! With the fabulous fight to stave off England in testing conditions and circumstances, the Indian women’s team has made a statement that just cannot be ignored by the powers running the game.

 

It was an intense fight, full of twists and turn associated with Test cricket. And the women proved their mettle in a profound manner, winning not just a brilliant draw but also millions of hearts around the world. The one-off Test should now set the ball rolling for more games for the women, who have always found themselves relegated to the corner as men’s cricket rules the roost. What transpired in Bristol in a gripping show of skills, stamina and courage has proved beyond doubt that the Indian women’s team has to be a regular on the international circuit. The most pleasing part of the women’s Test was the manner in which they managed to keep the big shadow of the World Test Championship final beyond the ropes. Despite the big hype and hoopla around the India v New Zealand final, the women held on to earn their own fandom by dishing out an exciting account of their skills.

 

Young Shafali Verma quickly earned comparisons with the sensational Virender Sehwag for the power she packed in her strokes. On debut, the dynamite shredded many a myth about women’s inability to play powerful shots as she constructed two superb half-centuries with mature mix of offence and defence. The talented Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma also announced their resolve with fabulous batting before the tail led by Sneh stood up to defy odds. This show in the one-off Test has proved that the women can blossom into top performers in Test cricket if given more games. India are a force to reckon with in the limited overs format. But the romance of Test cricket is the ultimate craving for a cricketer worth his or her salt. Passing the extreme examination of physical and mental skills is meaningful completion of a cricketer’s quest for glory.

 

The women deserve more such examinations to bring further finesse to their fighting attitude. Agreed, women’s cricket can never match the power and energy levels on display in men’s cricket. Yet, they have made a strong case for themselves for more games by showing great intent. In the end, all that matters is intent and the will to go for it. Even otherwise, taking into account their limited overs show and the fan-following they have amassed, women’s cricket merits a more regular schedule akin to the men’s programme. The Bristol show has presented the template.