When Sneha Deepthi was leaving to join the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), the young mother was finding it tough.
Her two-year-old daughter Kriva, wasn’t prepared to let her go.
At the time, Deepthi felt that pang of guilt a lot of mother’s have, and wondered whether to leave at all.
“Something inside me said, ‘Cricket and family both are important’,” Deepthi said.
“If I have come this far, I should go.”
With the support of her husband, and a “play well” from her daughter, Deepthi went off to chase her dream of being on the women’s professional circuit in India.
The 26-year-old was with the Delhi Capitals for six weeks, the longest she has been away from her baby.
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“I made voice calls and video calls,” Deepthi said.
“[But] whenever I speak to Kriva, she asks me to get back home.”
With the Capitals reaching the inaugural WPL final, emotions were running high.
Kriva couldn’t wait any longer, so she and Deepthi’s husband travelled to Mumbai to watch the game and be reunited.
Deepthi says the reunion was one of pure joy, and a moment to savour.
“When she saw me she was overjoyed and just hugged me.”
Deepthi says her experience of being a young mother in India able to chase her dreams in professional sport, isn’t commonplace.
“We see in Australia, England the situation is much better for mothers,” Deepthi said.
“It is normal for them to play after maternity leave. But the concept is yet to catch up in India.
“The whole idea of mothers returning to sport is not a norm yet. There are very few initiatives for mothers to return to play here.”
Deepthi has an extremely supportive family, who push her to pursue her sporting dreams.
“When I had to leave for work, my father-in-law counselled me for two days,” she said.
“My husband even said if I was anxious, he will become a stay at home parent.”
Deepthi recalls him even playing inspirational movies to her while pregnant.
“He would play movies of mothers who have made a comeback to sports,” she said.
The Andhra batter made her India debut in 2013, but the right-hander was dropped after one series against Bangladesh.
However it didn’t stop her, she played on the domestic circuit, for no money, with no motivation.
In between she married and became a mother at 23.
When Deepthi got pregnant, she carefully planned her return, but it wasn’t easy.
“I had to get physically and mentally fit,” Deepthi said.
“I went through weight gain and physical changes.
“Most importantly, it took me a long time to be mentally fit. I went through the process of not liking what I saw in the mirror.
“As sports persons, we are always fit and healthy, but the body had changed post pregnancy. It took time to accept myself.”
Once the acceptance came and the fitness returned, results were there to see.
In her first major appearance since her pregnancy, Deepthi captained the Vizinagram Royals to a title in a T20 competition in Andhra, which serves as a talent pool for tournaments like the WPL.
After that performance, came the contract for the Women’s Premier League, with the Delhi Capitals picking her at auction for $54,500.
Despite ending up as a reserve for the Capitals in the WPL, Deepthi is grateful for the advent of the competition.
“We knew it would be boom time for women’s cricket,” she said.
“We also knew that India’s World Cup performance would have an impact on how the tournament was going to be perceived globally.
“I was aware that the fight for spots would become even tougher.”
Deepthi’s goal now after being part of the WPL is to get back into the Indian squad.
“I would like to say [to other women], never choose one thing in life over the other, whatever you want to pursue just do it.
“It will give you such joy in choosing your passion. It will also get you happiness, freedom and strength to do even more.
“It is not just the woman’s responsibility to manage parenthood, it is also the responsibility of the man and the family to help bring up the child.”
If the girl from Andhra’s plan works, she could become the first mother to return to team India.
Rica Roy has 22 years’ experience covering sport in India. She is currently the Sports Editor of NDTV and anchors the award-winning TV show, Turning Point.
She is a member of ABC International Development’s Women in News and Sport Initiative, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Team Up program.
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