In a landmark moment for Indian cricket, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) will name a spectators’ stand after former India captain Shantha Rangaswamy at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The tribute forms part of the celebrations marking 50 glorious years of Test cricket at the Bengaluru venue, spanning the 1974–75 to 2025–26 seasons. The commemorative evening will also see the Pavilion End named after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble and the Northern End after batting great Rahul Dravid, alongside honours for former administrators.
Yet, amid the celebratory programme and golden jubilee symbolism, the decision to honour Rangaswamy stands out as a powerful statement about recognition, inclusivity and cricketing history.
Shantha Rangaswamy’s legacy is inseparable from the early foundations of women’s cricket in India. She was the first woman to lead an Indian cricket team, the first woman to guide India to a Test series victory, and the first woman cricketer to receive a lifetime achievement award from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
At a time when the women’s game functioned with limited resources, sparse media attention and minimal structural support, Rangaswamy’s presence lent direction and credibility. She was a batting allrounder — one who could take the new ball and set the tone with her discipline and then anchor or accelerate the innings with the bat. But such a description scarcely captures the breadth of her influence; she was, in every sense, a pioneer navigating uncharted territory for Indian women in sport.
Making her Test debut in October 1976, Rangaswamy went on to play 16 Tests, captaining India in 12 of them. Her finest hour as captain arguably came in a six-Test series against the West Indies, where she led from the front with the bat, scoring 381 runs at an impressive average of 42.33, including four half-centuries. Those performances powered India to a historic 1-0 series victory, establishing the team’s competitive credentials on the international stage.
She also carved her name into the record books by becoming the first Indian woman to score a Test century and by striking India’s first six in women’s Test cricket. Beyond the longer format, she represented India in 19 One-Day Internationals, with an international career that spanned 15 years, reflecting both consistency and resilience in an era devoid of today’s professional frameworks.
Her contributions were not confined to the playing field. Rangaswamy remained closely associated with the sport even after her playing days, serving as a commentator with All India Radio and contributing to cricket’s outreach and understanding among listeners. In recognition of her achievements and her service to Indian sport, she was conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1976, further cementing her status as one of the country’s foremost sporting figures.
Decades later, as women’s cricket in India enjoys unprecedented visibility and structural backing, the naming of a stand in her honour at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium carries symbolic weight. The KSCA’s golden jubilee programme also includes the unveiling of its cricket academy vision for the 2026–27 season, the launch of a structured domestic calendar, and a formal commitment to equality in cricket, including gratis facilities for women cricketers on par with men.
In that broader context, honouring Rangaswamy feels both fitting and forward-looking. As spectators gather under the newly named stand in years to come, the tribute will stand as a permanent reminder of the woman who led from the front when Indian women’s cricket was still fighting to be seen and heard.
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