Raju Korti
Let me make an honest confession. I do not watch women's cricket as avidly as I watch men's cricket. Not because I consider them less talented and entertaining but just because it is not often that you see them on the big stage.
Watching Harmanpreet Kaur yesterday late evening brutally savage the Aussies in the Women's World Cup Semi Finals at Derby with a flurry of audacious strokes, I have decided to go beyond the regulation accolades that have been pouring in. Why not have Harmanpreet in the Indian playing XI? She performed on the big stage, delivered a swashbuckling performance any male cricketer would have been envious of. The sheer power that her willow exuded -- some of her big shots landing more than 80 meters -- made me wonder in what way was she less than any of the Kohlis, Yuvrajs and Dhonis. Even they don't hit seven sixes in a crunch match like the one yesterday. This is, of course, just a figurative comparison.
Harmanpreet is an Indian first. I am quite enamored by the thought that she should be included in the Indian playing XI. Among other things, it will be an exemplary beginning to end gender discrimination that follows the putrid male chauvinism and what better than to begin with Sports?
The electrifying knock transported me to 1975 when West Indian Roy Fredericks punctured the bloated egos of Lillee and Thomson at their furious best with a stunning 169 of which 100 were brought in in just eight overs. Mind you both West Indies and Australia were playing to their full potential with a cream of players. In an informal chat much later, former Aussie captain Ian Chappel told me that it was the most amazing batting display that he had ever seen - a view concurred by many others of that era. That was a Test match. Harmanpreet did it in limited overs do-or-die match.
It is saddening to see the Indian media, which is over-obsessed with politics, not taking enough cognizance of a player who did India so proud almost single-handed yesterday. And it goes ga ga over men's cricket, writing reams.
That intense, clinical demolition from Indian women, however, left me penitent -- of having missed out on earlier matches. A victory is a victory is a victory. Let's raise a toast to this wonderful team. And one way of doing it could be rewarding them as handsomely as they do men cricketers. I am sure Mr Moneybags BCCI, which has lakhs to pay for one six and one catch, can dish out enough money to these women to motivate them into a more fighting outfit. If the coach of the Indian cricket team is worthy of being paid Rs 8 crore annually for coaching players that need no coaching, surely we can do by diverting some of the overflowing coffers to those who have brought India no less glory.
Till then, at least bring in the red carpet.
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| Harmanpreet, the new rock star. (File grab) |
Watching Harmanpreet Kaur yesterday late evening brutally savage the Aussies in the Women's World Cup Semi Finals at Derby with a flurry of audacious strokes, I have decided to go beyond the regulation accolades that have been pouring in. Why not have Harmanpreet in the Indian playing XI? She performed on the big stage, delivered a swashbuckling performance any male cricketer would have been envious of. The sheer power that her willow exuded -- some of her big shots landing more than 80 meters -- made me wonder in what way was she less than any of the Kohlis, Yuvrajs and Dhonis. Even they don't hit seven sixes in a crunch match like the one yesterday. This is, of course, just a figurative comparison.
Harmanpreet is an Indian first. I am quite enamored by the thought that she should be included in the Indian playing XI. Among other things, it will be an exemplary beginning to end gender discrimination that follows the putrid male chauvinism and what better than to begin with Sports?
The electrifying knock transported me to 1975 when West Indian Roy Fredericks punctured the bloated egos of Lillee and Thomson at their furious best with a stunning 169 of which 100 were brought in in just eight overs. Mind you both West Indies and Australia were playing to their full potential with a cream of players. In an informal chat much later, former Aussie captain Ian Chappel told me that it was the most amazing batting display that he had ever seen - a view concurred by many others of that era. That was a Test match. Harmanpreet did it in limited overs do-or-die match.
It is saddening to see the Indian media, which is over-obsessed with politics, not taking enough cognizance of a player who did India so proud almost single-handed yesterday. And it goes ga ga over men's cricket, writing reams.
That intense, clinical demolition from Indian women, however, left me penitent -- of having missed out on earlier matches. A victory is a victory is a victory. Let's raise a toast to this wonderful team. And one way of doing it could be rewarding them as handsomely as they do men cricketers. I am sure Mr Moneybags BCCI, which has lakhs to pay for one six and one catch, can dish out enough money to these women to motivate them into a more fighting outfit. If the coach of the Indian cricket team is worthy of being paid Rs 8 crore annually for coaching players that need no coaching, surely we can do by diverting some of the overflowing coffers to those who have brought India no less glory.
Till then, at least bring in the red carpet.
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