22 yards calling: More girls dream to blaze the trail
Times of India | 4 November 2025
Kolkata: The roar of victory from India's women's cricket team has echoed far beyond the stadium, stirring a wave of excitement among young girls in Kolkata. Many of them are now dreaming of picking up bats and balls themselves.
Local cricket academies expect the victory to spark fresh interest, with parents encouraging their daughters to enrol in coaching camps.
"Sunday's victory will go a long way in smashing a quiet social barrier," said Oindrila Ghosh, a cricket coach at a New Town cricket club where six girls currently train. "In an average household, cricket is often seen as a boy's game, and parents are usually hesitant to encourage their daughters to play the game.
This win will change the mindset. Several parents have told me their daughters stayed up past midnight to watch the women's team lift the World Cup.
It's made a real impact."
The enthusiasm began building soon after India's semi-final win over Australia, but it peaked following the team's win in the final. At cricket coaching academies, the buzz is unmistakable. The Bulan Cricket and Football Academy in south Kolkata, which trains young cricketers from across the city, has already seen a spike in inquiries.
"We are expecting the number of enrolments to go up after this victory," said Arijit Mazumdar, one of the academy's coaches.
Coaches in Kolkata said the growing interest could mark a turning point for women's cricket in Kolkata. The number of girls' cricket tournaments and coaching camps has steadily increased in recent years, but the overall participation remains modest. "This is the kind of victory that can shift attitudes," said a coach at The Calcutta Cricket Academy, which already has close to 22 girls training there.
For many young fans, the victory felt personal. Twelve-year-old Vedika Kanodia said she couldn't take her eyes off the television during the final. "I stayed up really late on Sunday to watch the match with my parents," said Vedika.