Indian women's cricket team will be playing a Test match after a gap of 7 years as they start the upcoming tour of England in whites from June 16.
Indian women's cricket team will be playing a Test match after a long gap of seven years. Team India will be playing the one-off Test against England starting June 16 at Bristol followed by three ODIs and as many T20Is. The team was thrilled to bits when they received their jerseys on Sunday and the team management lead by the newly appointed coach Ramesh Powar presented them with their respective jerseys.
Team India batter Jemimah Rodrigues penned a heartfelt note after receiving the jersey from the two stalwarts of Indian cricket - Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj. Rodrigues said that their responsibility is to honour those who came before them and those who are yet to come and leave the jersey in a better place.
She posted the picture of receiving her jersey from both Jhulan and Mithali and captioned the post saying, "So today Ramesh sir called us for a team meeting and showed us the history we have of women's cricket in India - From where it first started to where it has reached today... The one's who were before us that made it possible for us to be a part of what we are today. The one's who did it without the recognition they deserved, the one's who brought women's cricket in India.
"Then the two legends of Indian women's cricket Mithu di and Jhulu di came up and shared with the entire team what cricket has meant to them and what it's like being a part of this Legacy.
"The meeting ended off with this beautiful quote... Our greatest responsibility is to honour those who have been before us and those who will come after, to 'leave the JERSEY in a better place.'
"This series and the series here forth, we are playing for a far bigger cause than what we realise, we are playing for every single girl who desires to play this sport."
1. Mithali Raj
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First was the skipper Mithai Raj. Mithali was presented her jersey by the pacer Jhulan Goswami, star batter Smriti Mandhana and the T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Mithali was also part of the Test match in the year 2014 when Indian women last featured in whites.
2. Jhulan Goswami
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The legend of Indian cricket Jhulan Goswami was presented her jersey by Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. The team had made a presentation and each player was called when their name's slide appeared.
3. Shikha Pandey
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The veteran pacer Shikha Pandey with a smile was presented her jersey by Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Taking to Twitter, Shikha wrote, "I meet this 5-year-old starry eyed kid everyday. She asks me the same question and I don't now what to say. I've exhausted all the excuses that I can give her, so I tell myself to work harder and be the change I am looking for.
"This is to show: respect and gratitude to every woman cricketer who came before us, strength to the mates who are toiling hard right now at all levels, hope to the future one whom we aim to inspire!
"Because at the end of the day what really matters is to "leave the JERSEY in a better place. #WeFlyasOne #BecauseofHerWeCan."
The five year old me is thrilled to bits. #WeFlyAs1 #BecauseOfHerWeCan pic.twitter.com/QT6egYJUDc
— Shikha Pandey (@shikhashauny) May 31, 2021
4. Harmanpreet Kaur
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The big-hitting Harmanpreet Kaur also received her jersey from Jhulan and Mithali with the No 7.
5. Smriti Mandhana
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After which, the star opening batter Smriti Madhana was presented with her jersey.
: #TeamIndia's new Test kit ahead of the #ENGvIND Test!@M_Raj03 | @JhulanG10 | @ImHarmanpreet | @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/KmJyXqdOBk
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) May 30, 2021
6. Deepti Sharma
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The all-rounder Deepti Sharma was chuffed to bits after receiving her jersey from the two legends. Taking to Twitter she wrote, "I'm glad to receive my team jersey from the two legends of the women's cricket @M_Raj03 @JhulanG10. Feeling blessed and motivated for the upcoming tour."
I'm glad to receive my team jersey from the two legends of the women's cricket @M_Raj03 @JhulanG10
— Deepti Sharma (@Deepti_Sharma06) May 30, 2021
Feeling blessed and motivated for the upcoming tour. pic.twitter.com/YITeVrOZXq
7. Punam Raut
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The opening batter Punam Raut was the next one to receive her jersey.
8. Poonam Yadav
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Raut's namesake albeit with a different spelling the leg-spinner Poonam Yadav received her jersey.
9. Shafali Verma
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The emerging young star of Indian cricket Shafali Verma, who received her maiden call-up to the ODI and Test side received her jersye as well.
10. Ekta Bisht
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The left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht also received her jersey from Jhulan and Mithali.
(All pictures from BCCI Women)
