Against all odds: How this woman cricketer from Pune rekindled her love for game, returned in a new role after 3 decades

“It was my choice to leave cricket, I married against my parent’s wishes, and I felt responsible to ensure that my marriage was successful. I didn’t think I had the space to focus on the game anymore,” she recalled in an emotional conversation with The Indian Express.

Born and raised in Pune, Pratibha grew up playing cricket in the police quarters where she lived. Her early training came not from academies, but from street games with uncles and neighbours, often not with tennis balls, but hard leather balls.

It was a chance encounter that unlocked her future. “I was riding on my father’s bike when he pointed to a woman on a Luna scooter and said, ‘she plays for India.’ That moment changed my life. Until then, I didn’t even know women’s cricket teams existed,” she said.

One of her most cherished moments remains her felicitation by cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. (Express Photo)

Soon after, Pratibha found herself at a selection camp, and by the following year, she was part of the Maharashtra Under-19 team as a formidable all-rounder with bowling being her core strength. One of her most cherished moments remains her felicitation by cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.

Pratibha’s son, Anish, was just six when he first learned about his mother’s past as a cricketer. “She would always tell me to play for fun and not think of it professionally. That used to confuse me, until I realised she was speaking from her own lived experience.”

He added, “She’s not an outlier in our family – one of her sisters played baseball, another played kabaddi. But she never spoke much about herself.”

Even during the years away from cricket, Pratibha never really disengaged from her passion. “I stayed in touch with former players. I enjoyed discussing match data, statistics, and the game itself. It was always there, even if I was not on the field,” she recalled.

Her re-entry into cricket came through the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA), which began collecting data on former women players after the women’s game was officially brought under the Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI) in India in 2006.

Pratibha now uses her journey to encourage other women not to give up on their dreams post-marriage or motherhood. (Express Photo)

Since 2019, Pratibha has taken on several key roles within the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA). She began as a selector for the Under-15 and Under-19 women’s teams, later stepping up as the team manager for the senior women’s Maharashtra cricket team. Most recently, she also served as the manager for the Raigad Royals in the Women’s Maharashtra Premier League (WMPL), further cementing her comeback.

“I never imagined I would return. I’m not ambitious by nature, but my son kept pushing me. He would say, ‘you can do this’,” she said. “I’m thankful to God for this opportunity. My love for the game is not materialistic, it comes straight from the heart.”

She acknowledges the stark contrast between the cricket world she left and the one she has re-entered. “Back then, we had nothing, no money, no facilities. Sixteen or seventeen of us would stay in one room. Today, players receive daily allowances, per-match payments, and proper coaching. But the competition is fierce, and fitness is non-negotiable,” she said.

Pratibha now uses her journey to encourage other women not to give up on their dreams post-marriage or motherhood. “There are so many role models like Mary Kom and Sania Mirza, who have returned to the game after marriage. Why not try? If you’re a player, your approach to life is different. You handle problems differently. I see that in myself too,” she noted.

Despite a long gap, Pratibha has found her footing again, navigating not just changing rules and systems, but also shifting perceptions. “I may not be as fit as I was in my 20s, but my love for the game has not changed, I will keep doing what I can,” she said with a smile.

Aryesh Chakraborty is an intern with The Indian Express.