While Team India chases glory at the ongoing Women’s Cricket World Cup, a woman along the salty shores of Vizag is quietly shaping the future of the game.

At the nets beside the ACA-VDCA (Andhra Cricket Association-Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association) Cricket Stadium, the evening buzzes with energy. Young girls perfect their stance, practise catches, and aim sharp throwdowns at the stumps — all under a pair of watchful eyes.

“The goal is very clear — to help these girls achieve a dream that I couldn’t: playing for India,” says D Kalyani, a Level 1 coach at the Visakhapatnam District Cricket Academy.

A former batter who represented Andhra at the state level, Kalyani has been at the heart of Vizag’s growing women’s cricket movement. From grooming players from scratch to readying them for the national stage, the 39-year-old has shaped several success stories — including that of Shabnam Shakil, who was part of India’s victorious U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup squad.

Her journey into coaching, however, began with a personal dream — to don the India jersey herself.

“I used to play gully cricket with the boys in my locality. Seeing them smash the ball hard to all corners, I challenged myself – if they can hit it that hard, why can’t I? Mind you, I was just seven then, the only girl among them,” Kalyani recalls. That spirit of defying norms would go on to shape her journey.

Born into a humble family, Kalyani was introduced to cricket early on by her father, an avid fan of the sport. She often joined her brother and his friends in street matches, unknowingly nurturing a deep love for the game.

With encouragement from her father and brother, she began pursuing cricket seriously and soon found herself pushing into new frontiers. The path ahead, however, was anything but easy.

“Picking up a bat and wearing sporty clothes were considered taboo in my area back then — let alone a girl playing cricket,” shares Kalyani. Neighbours often criticised her “boyish” behaviour and warned her parents, but she paid no attention and simply played on, driven by the joy of the game.

Her breakthrough came at a district selection camp in Vizag. “It’s funny how I even enrolled,” she laughs. “My brother saw the news and teased........

© The Better India