Cricket is considered the religion of India. Therefore, June 29, 2024, was a silver lining on the horizon of Indian cricket. India won T20 world cup final at Barbados in West Indies by ending the drought of 13 years. India beat South Africa by 7 runs in a nail-biting finish. The whole of India celebrated so madly that they forgot to notice another history being written by the Indian women’s Test team against the South African Test team.
The Indian women’s cricket team scored 525/4 in 98 overs at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This was the highest number of runs scored by any team in the history of cricket, both men and women. Such a grand feat equally deserves our applause, but it went away unnoticed. Moreover, this is something that must not surprise you if you look at the stats of the women cricket team; they had the previous highest number of runs scored in a day of 475, although in 1935 between England and New Zealand.
While the individual brilliance of men in blue is undeniable, women in blue are also striving to make their mark in the annals of history. Shefali Sharma, who scored a double ton in 194 balls, is a remarkable feat for any individual in women’s cricket. It is also known as the fastest ever double ton in one day. Everyone still remembers the story of Virendra Sehwag reaching 200 by hitting six against Pakistan, but her individual brilliance goes unnoticed in a nation where cricket is a religion, Moreover, Shefali has joined hands with Mithali Raj in the 200-run club in the women's cricket team.
Apart from this, who can forget December 16, 2023, when the Indian women’s cricket team hammered England by 347 runs, the biggest margin of victory in women’s Test cricket?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India is one of the richest sports organizations in the world today (BCCI). The things that keep them in check are up for debate, but the talent, the supporters, the stadiums, the cash, the resources, the sponsors, and the appetite are all there. The way the women's team is treated varies greatly between the Indian Board and the Australian Board of Cricket. While the Australian board treats both teams equally (men and women), the Indian board's balance of treatment is lopsided.