Twelve overs of pure inspiration was what the spectators at the Kohinoor Grounds in Basavanagudi witnessed on Saturday as grandmothers aged between 60 and 80 defied their age and batted their way to the 91-run victory. Donning maroon and orange coloured tracksuits, grannies belonging to the Spoorthi Mahila Samaja and the Keerti Mahila Samaja entered the field with their cricket gear to loud cheers. It was a close match as the Spoorthi team won the Spoorthi Cup by defeating the Keerti team by six runs.
“Seeing so many people of my age playing cricket is overwhelming. I feel young again,” was what 60-year-old Nirmala Ratnam said as she played against her equally young opponents.
It was not just these young ladies who competed for the cup. Mothers aged between 30 and 50 also played a separate match, and proved their mettle as they hit the ball out of the park.
Breaking the typical stereotypes, these grandmothers and mothers took on a new avatar of cricketers on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Spoorthi Mahila Samaja and 9th anniversary of Keerti Mahila Samaja.
While the crowd cheered them all along, their families gave them all encouragement to play the matches with all enthusiasm and energy. “Despite challenges, it is their dedication that brought them here for practice sessions every day for the last two months”, said Kavitha Dhanya, as she cheered for her mother.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who inaugurated the event, said, “Women often forget sports once they get married. Seeing them play cricket today made me really happy. Age is never a barrier for sports.”