Cricket in India is not just a sport. The results of the game are not restricted to sheer joy and entertainment it gives, but to an emotional connection which is felt between the pious sport and the biggest stakeholders of the game. To just remain in the same vicinity as the superstars of the game is considered as a moment that will remain etched in the hearts of fans for life.
Season 3 of the Women’s Premier League is currently underway with five teams clashing to bag the silverware. The tournament is being played at four venues, with the first leg of the tournament coming to an end at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on February 19.
In game no. 6 of the third season between the Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz, fans were spotted in massive numbers donning the jerseys of their favourite respective teams. During the conduct of the match, a mesmerising moment occurred as the entire crowd erupted in unison, singing the famous and emotional ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’. The chants echoed across the stadium, sending chills down the spines of viewers and spectators alike.
It was not just about singing a patriotic song; it was a summarised expression of pride and devotion towards the game. In that seminal moment, the game transcended sport—it became a platform for national pride, where every attendee, irrespective of team loyalties, sang his heart out together to celebrate the spirit of India. The electrifying ambience, with thousands of voices merging into one, demonstrated how deeply cricket is intertwined with emotions in the nation.
The women’s game has undergone an evident transformative shift since the inception of the WPL. People hurl in unprecedented numbers to witness cricketing action on weekdays as well – and to notice – this time not to see the gentlemen taking on the 22-yards.
The passion that men’s cricket has relished for uncountable years is now rubbing over the game of ladies, breaking stereotypes and setting higher standards for the sport’s popularity in the country.
The enthusiasm in Baroda is a testament that the league is not just a tournament—it is a revolution in Indian sports culture. Vadodara has been a terrific host for the first leg of the season, and the league would hope that Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mumbai follow the footsteps being imprinted.
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