Assam's Jintimani Kalita wanted only bat as child, makes India ODI debut
Jintimani Kalita, a 22-year-old cricketer from Assam, has made her ODI debut for the Indian national team. Her journey from humble beginnings to the Women's Premier League and international cricket highlights her perseverance in overcoming financial and social barriers.
Why it matters
Her success serves as a significant milestone for women's sports in Northeast India and highlights the growing impact of the Women's Premier League in fostering domestic talent.
As a child, Jintimani Kalita was fascinated by cricket bats. New clothes and jewellery did not excite her as much as the thought of playing cricket. Today, the 22-year-old from Assam has taken a significant step towards the dream she pursued from a young age: representing India.Kalita made her One Day International (ODI) debut against Zimbabwe in Vadodara on October 23, becoming only the second woman cricketer from Assam to represent the Indian senior team, after wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry.Her journey from Mangaldoi, a town in Assam, to the Indian dressing room has involved years of domestic cricket, training with borrowed equipment and opportunities that gradually brought her closer to the national side.How her cricket journey beganKalita's introduction to cricket came through her younger brother.
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