Women's Day 2025 Special Series : Bowling Past Barriers And Crafting Champions In Women’s Cricket

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From guiding players for the T20, ODI and World Cup to shaping the future of WPL, her journey is nothing short of inspiring. Boldsky caught up with Saranya R.S., a woman who has redefined coaching for the Women's Indian cricket team. She is the Bowling Coach for the National Cricket Academy High-Performance Unit and currently the head coach of the Chhattisgarh Senior Women's cricket team.

Saranya's Journey Into Cricket : A Passion For Sports

Saranya's foray into cricket wasn't direct, it started out a journey filled with a natural love for sports. "I was involved in sports from a very young age, representing Kerala at the national level in athletics and hockey. But I had no idea that women's cricket even existed at the time." Her interest in cricket grew during childhood when she played gully cricket with her cousin brothers. "I loved cricket from the beginning, and I asked my school PT Teacher to introduce it to the school. I even bought my own bat."

Her commitment to the sport paid off when she was selected for the Trivandrum district team after just two months of coaching. Saranya eventually became the captain of the Kerala Women's State team for six years, even playing for India A.

Becoming A Certified Coach : A Step Beyond Playing

Saranya's path took a turn towards coaching after years of playing. She then became the first woman cricketer from Kerala to be certified as a coach by the National Cricket Academy. "I cleared my Level A certification in 2009, then Level B in 2012. I am currently preparing for my Level C certification. After which I have two options: either be a full-time cricketer or a coach. I feel coaching is something I'm deeply committed to now especially after my cervical spine injury." Today, she serves as the Bowling Coach for the National Cricket Academy High-Performance Unit, where she continues to shape the future of Indian cricket.

Challenges Faced In A Male-Dominated Field

Saranya recalls the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated sport: "Women's cricket wasn't taken seriously in the beginning. There was no cricket culture, no crowd support. It felt like we were just participating, not professional athletes.When the BCCI started supporting women's cricket, everything changed. We received better facilities, even though they weren't equal to the men's facilities at the time."

She recalls how the introduction of match fees marked a significant turning point. "Match fees were introduced, and that made us professional players. Before society didn't fully accept women playing cricket. Boys were encouraged to play for the potential financial gain, while girls had to prove themselves in a way that was still being questioned." She highlights that women's cricket underwent a significant transformation with the introduction of the WPL. The Under-19 women's team's back-to-back T20 World Cup championships is a clear proof of this change.

Inspiring The Next Generation : Her Niece And Nephew

While working at LNCP in Trivandrum, Saranya often took her niece to the cricket ground. Despite having no prior training, her niece eagerly participated in various sports and won prizes. What stood out most to Saranya was that she was a genuine left-hander, something she initially dismissed as a habit but later recognized as a natural ability, especially in bowling and batting.

Unaware of Saranya's background in athletics, her niece once picked up a stump and began "teaching" her javelin, asking, "Do you know how to throw this?" Amused, Saranya played along while subtly guiding her. The very next day, the young girl threw the javelin with her left hand and secured third place at the Trivandrum District Athletic Championship. Her curiosity didn't stop there-she went on to try long jump, unaware of Saranya's own high jump record, and won a prize in that too. When she attempted a 400m race, Saranya and a colleague watched in amazement as she finished first.

Fearless in every sport, she even taught herself skate-dancing for a school performance. Her passion for cricket then led her to play at the Under-15 district level. Inspired by her enthusiasm, Saranya's nephew also took up cricket, proving how deeply sports can shape and inspire young minds.

Paving The Way For Women's Empowerment In Cricket

Saranya's work as a coach extends beyond teaching technique, as she is committed to empowering young athletes. "What I'm doing now is for the country-to help players fulfill their potential and bring pride to India," she shares. She emphasizes the importance of mental resilience in her players: "Confidence is the most important thing a player can have. They need to believe in themselves, no matter what."

Saranya has seen firsthand how cricket can transform lives, sharing the story of Uma Chetry from Assam. "Uma walked 20 km every day just to practice. She came from an underprivileged background, but her determination made her unstoppable. Now, she plays for the Indian team and has been picked by the UP Warriorz for the WPL. That's the power of cricket, she is now the backbone of her family."

The Transformation Of Women's Cricket

Saranya has seen significant progress in women's cricket, but she believes there's still more to do. "Like I said earlier, the changes since BCCI's involvement have been massive-better facilities, match fees, and more professional opportunities. But we still have a long way to go. Women's cricket needs more recognition, more crowd support. People know Virat Kohli, but how many people can name Smriti Mandhana or Harmanpreet Kaur?"

She acknowledges the WPL as a major step forward but stresses that more support is needed. "There should be more franchises and more investment in women's cricket to ensure Indian players have more opportunities."

Mental Toughness And Resilience In Coaching

As a coach, Saranya values the emotional connection she builds with her players. "The key to coaching is building trust. Players need to feel that they can talk to you when they're struggling." She emphasizes the importance of being present for players when they need it the most. "When a player is at their lowest, that's when a coach needs to step in. We need to offer guidance and support, not just technical advice."

Looking Ahead : Saranya's Vision For The Future

Saranya has a greater purpose-to serve her country and help bring home a World Cup. "I want to help India win a World Cup. We've reached the semi-finals and finals, but we need to refine both our mental and physical strengths to go all the way." She says. For her, that remains the main agenda. She believes they are on the brink of victory, reaching semi-finals and finals, only to fall short. As a coach, Saranya's role extends beyond developing skilled players; she aims to build mentally resilient women cricketers who can rise to the occasion and bring the trophy home for India.

Advice For Women In Male-Dominated Industries

Saranya's advice to women breaking into male-dominated fields is clear: "Never give up. The future is uncertain, and when one door closes, thousand others will open. Work hard, stay sincere, and the success will follow." She encourages women to embrace their strengths: "Women are natural multitaskers. We may not have the physical strength that men have, but we are emotionally stronger. We have great potential, it's time to embrace it."

Leading By Example

Apart from being a coach, Saranya R.S. is a changemaker in the world of women's cricket. On this Women's Day, her story highlights that persistence, passion, and belief in oneself can shatter even the toughest barriers. Through her work, she continues to inspire countless young women, proving that the future of Indian cricket is bright and inclusive. And let's hope with the right support and opportunities, the Women's Cricket Team will one day lift the World Cup, turning dreams into reality.