On July 27th, Uma Chetry’s birthday and the day before the Women’s Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka, the BCCI uploaded a video titled “Uma Chetry: The Journey.” In the video, Chetry shares her life story and cricketing journey.
The video starts with Chetry saying “I want to play from Bokakhat and I will play for India. Once we decide what we want to do and say that we will do it, no matter how much hard work it takes, we should not back down thinking that it’s too difficult for us to achieve.”
Early Life and Introduction to Cricket
Uma Chetry, 22, made her international debut in the 2nd T20 International (T20I), on July 07, 2024, during South Africa’s tour of India at Chennai. By doing that, she became the first female cricketer from Assam to play for India. Chetry hails from Bokakhat, Assam, and in domestic cricket represents the state of Assam. She is the only girl among the five siblings.
Her father is a farmer, and her mother is a housewife. Chetry recalls that in 2011, her passion for cricket grew so intensely that she decided to pursue it seriously. She asked her brother if she should pursue cricket. He reminded her that she had mentioned wanting to go to the hostel the previous day and urged her to decide what she truly wanted to do. She then told him she liked playing cricket and wanted to pursue it. He agreed, saying she should go and play, and from that moment, her cricket journey began.
The Struggles and Determination
The cricket field was far from her home, almost 8-9 kilometres. From the start, she used to travel back and forth on foot to the cricket field. From school to home, from home to practice, she used to leave at 7 in the morning and would return home around 7:30-8:00 at night. She shared that there were many struggles, but her heart was set on cricket. Sometimes she would return from school, go to the fields to plant rice with her mother, and then head to the cricket ground. In 2011, she started playing cricket and would frequently travel to Guwahati for match camps. For four years, she experienced this routine of travelling back and forth, not getting selected, and often being placed on standby.
Inspiration and Resolve
Uma Chetry recalled practising on the ground when she heard someone mention Harmanpreet Kaur scoring 171 runs. She got goosebumps, having never imagined or heard of such a high score in women’s cricket before. That moment sparked a determination in her to achieve the same and play alongside Harmanpreet Kaur. Since then, her resolve to play cricket, regardless of the effort required, has only grown stronger.
Chetry said, “I was practising on the ground that day when someone mentioned that Harmanpreet Kaur had scored 171. I got goosebumps because I had never even thought of scoring such a high number, and I had never heard of a score like that in women’s cricket before. At that moment, I felt determined that one day I would achieve that too and play alongside Harman di. Since then, the feeling has only grown stronger that I must play cricket no matter what. No matter how hard I have to work, I will do it.”
𝗨𝗺𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆
The hardships, the perseverance and belief to play for #TeamIndia 🇮🇳
On the wicket-keeper batter’s birthday, watch her inspiring journey from Bokakhat 👌 – By @mihirlee_58
Full Feature 🎥🔽 #WomensAsiaCup2024
https://t.co/YgoKzeRMbu pic.twitter.com/ZLfja0NwSz— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) July 27, 2024
The Breakthrough
When the team announced her inclusion in the playing XI, she got emotional and even shed a few tears. It was a very happy day for her, and the most significant part was receiving her debut cap from Harman Di. She was extremely happy because she had been waiting for so long for that day, to play for India and make the country proud.
Family Support and Motivation
Chetry’s brother had questioned her about whether she would be able to play for India or if she should focus on getting a job. He suggested that she should consider a job seriously. She told him she wouldn’t think about a job because she wanted to play for India. He also suggested that if she wanted to practice outside, she should do it in Guwahati or another good place. But she firmly told her brother that she wanted to play from Bokakhat and would play for India, that she would prove it. She remembers that conversation clearly because it’s one of those moments that stick with you and drive you to achieve your goals.
Overcoming Setbacks
Uma Chetry recalled a challenging period during a domestic season where her performance was poor, with her highest score being just 12 and her keeping marred by dropped catches. She was dropped from both the domestic matches and the state team, which made her question her abilities and consider quitting cricket altogether. However, her mother provided crucial support, encouraging her to learn from her mistakes and bounce back stronger. Her mother’s words motivated her deeply, instilling the belief that with hard work and perseverance, she could achieve her goals, despite setbacks.
Uma Chetry’s journey from Bokakhat to the Indian cricket team is a testament to her determination, hard work, and the unwavering support of her family. Her story inspires many young cricketers across the country.