Why Delhi’s women cricketers are leaving the men behind

If anyone is wondering why women’s cricket in Delhi is delivering better results than men’s cricket these days, a prize distribution ceremony at the All India Kalpana Chawla and Sunil Jain Memorial Cricket Academy offered a telling glimpse on Sunday.

With chief guests including Delhi & District Cricket Association president Rohan Jaitley and other dignitaries in attendance, the contrast between the boys’ and girls’ teams was striking. Most of the girls arrived in proper attire, while a few came straight from the final in their cricket whites after the championship match between RANN Star and Cricket Academy of Narwal (Karnal). Yet, despite coming directly from the ground, they looked every bit the cricketers they are.

The men’s teams, however, presented a very different picture. Many players from Bright Club and TNM turned up in shorts, half-sleeved T-shirts and chappals, showing little regard for the occasion. Their explanation was that they had come straight from their match. But so had the girls, who nevertheless made an effort to present themselves appropriately for the ceremony.

It may seem like a small detail, but professionalism often begins with attitude. Perhaps that is one reason why Delhi’s women’s teams have been collecting more laurels in recent years than their male counterparts.

To make matters worse, one of the members of the DDCA’s League Cricket Committee—an aide to a former BCCI official who was present because it was a Delhi cricket event—was seen smiling and making light of the observation along with some of the male cricketers, who appeared to find it amusing. They carried themselves as though they had already played in the IPL, displaying plenty of attitude despite having achieved little at that level. The casualness with which the issue was brushed aside perhaps reflected a larger problem: a lack of professionalism and self-awareness that continues to hold many young cricketers back.

With organisers such as Rakesh Pawaria and Surjeet Verma putting in so much effort to stage a tournament of this scale—especially at a time when many others charge exorbitant fees for similar events—the least the participants could do is show some respect for the occasion.

The best example is the annual BCCI awards ceremony. It is remarkable how local cricketers often fail to notice the professionalism displayed by the game’s biggest stars. The leading players arrive impeccably dressed, carrying themselves with dignity and respect for the event. They understand that representing cricket extends beyond performances on the field.

Looking at the way some cricketers from Bright Club and TNM were dressed, however, cricket hardly appeared to be the gentleman’s game it prides itself on being. Attire alone does not define a player, but respect for an event, its organisers and its guests certainly says a lot about one’s attitude and professionalism.