Away from farm and kitchen, women take to the field to play cricket in rural Pune

What began as a community cricket tournament to mark the end of the farming season has quietly turned into a platform for women farmers to step into leadership roles in rural Pune.A farmers’ cricket tournament, organised as the concluding event of the CybageAsha Paddy Cup in Bhor and Velhe (now Rajgad) talukas, has shown how sports can drive social change by giving women visibility, confidence and a public voice, said organisers.

This year, the tournament saw participation from 35 men’s teams and 40 women’s teams, reflecting a shift in traditional rural dynamics as women increasingly moved beyond household and farm work into public spaces, they said.  For many women farmers, it was their first experience of organised sport and public competition.

As team captains and players, they planned practice sessions, coordinated teams, resolved on-field issues and represented their villages, roles traditionally dominated by men. Women participants said the experience helped build confidence that extended beyond the cricket ground. “Leading a team gives you confidence. People start listening to you not just during the match, but also in village meetings and farming discussions,” said Swati Zende, captain of a winning women’s team.

She said while her team secured first place, the joy of participation mattered more than the prize. Initially hesitant, elders and families gradually turned supporters, watching women play competitive cricket and cheering them on. Organisers said the tournament helped challenge social norms and encouraged conversations around women’s participation in leadership and decision-making.