Cricket for Us, by Us

India's heartland is unearthing gem after cricketing gem. Heroes are emerging from unheralded quarters

- Harsh Kumar

OVER the past 20 years, a quiet cricket revolution has been buzzing in the country’s margins. Players from small towns and rural India are breaking into a space once dominated by metro-based talent. The Indian Premier League played a key role, shifting focus from location to skill. Better scouting, grassroots funding and changing attitudes have made cricket a real option beyond the cities.

T. Natarajan’s journey sums it up. He grew up in poverty in Chinnappampatti, played tennis-ball cricket till 19 and dreamed only of a proper pair of spikes. From the Tamil Nadu Premier League to the ‘holy grail’ of brisk cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) and finally the Indian team, he made his mark in the 2021 Brisbane Test after starting out as a net bowler.

Mohammed Siraj’s journey from Mehdipatnam to the Indian team began with tennis-ball cricket at Charminar Cricket Club. His father drove an autorickshaw and money was tight. There was little formal coaching. Siraj travelled close to thirty kilometres daily to train at better grounds in Hyderabad. A break with former Test cricketer and coach Bharat Arun led to a spot in the Hyderabad senior team, from where he worked his way into India’s pace attack, leading it in tandem with Jaspreet Bumrah.

The rise of players like T Natarajan, Mohammed Siraj and Yashasvi Jaiswal reflects a clear shift in Indian cricket’s demography. It is no longer about privilege. It is about who's ready. Indian cricket’s rawest talent isn’t coming from academies in metros. It’s coming from the margins. And with popular leagues, increased funding and active scouting, that talent is finally finding its way to the crease.

Uma Chetry: Dream Catcher

Uma Chetry grew up in Kandulimari, a village in Assam where football, not cricket, dominated popular passion. Her brothers played cricket. So did she. That was only the beginning.