Batting in Gendered Spaces: Mapping the Struggle of Womens Cricket in India

Sport plays an important part in the growth of a human being. When the history of sport is mapped, it can be seen that it has been dominated by men. Sport was seen as a symbol of masculinity. Like in the other parts of the world, Indian women did not actively participate in sport till the dawn of independence. The prevalence of gender marginalization in sport has made it difficult for sportswomen to pursue and sustain in the sport chosen by them. Indian sportswomen have made a mark in a number of sport, despite the differential treatment experienced by them. In India the word 'sport' is synonymous with cricket. India is said to be a cricket frenzy nation. Cricket and cricketers hog the limelight and enjoy a lot of adulation. Media coverage, fame, facilities, monetary and non-monetary benefits received by the cricketers out do the ones received by non-cricketers. But the irony is that this idolizing, limelight, adulation, hero worship has been limited only to 'Men's Cricket' and 'Women's Cricket' comes nowhere close to this. However, this apathy has reduced to some extent but the fact remains that neither women's cricket nor women cricketers are treated in the same way as their male counterparts. Discrepancy is evident with regard to the opportunities, remuneration, commercial assignments, media attention and response from avid cricket followers. Cricket as game was introduced to women in India in 1913. The year 1971 saw the establishment of a cricket club for women. This paper will plot the origin, growth, and status quo of women's cricket in India. The paper will focus on the problems and marginalization faced by Indian women cricketers with reference to Karunya Keshav and Sidhanta Patnaik's, The Fire Burns Blue and Suprita Das's Free Hit.