Madhu Dhama: Off-spinner scalping odds to lift Delhi and her family's hopes

While captain Tanisha Singh has scored heavily, 508 runs, to help Delhi clear the league stage of the BCCI Women’s Under-23 One-Day Trophy, and cruise into quarterfinals, Madhu Dhama has been the pick of the bowlers with 17 wickets at an average of 7.64.

The 22-year-old, one of the bread-winners for her family, stands on top of the wicket-takers list across the country.

The off-spinner hails from Baghpat and has been staying in Delhi for the last eight years, rising through the ranks after representing the state in age-group cricket.

Initially, she would come for practice to Delhi’s Loni from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh – a distance of over 20 kilometres – but then decided to stay back and take up a room in a residential academy.

“I practiced for a year in 2015 and then first appeared for Delhi trials in 2016. I was then picked for the Delhi team 2017,” says the 22-year-old, who was selected as a 15-year-old to represent the Delhi under-19s.

Madhu Dhama with coach Shekhar

By 2019-20 season, when Madhu was 17, she was representing Delhi across all age groups, under-16, under-19, under-23 and the senior team.

Like everyone, she lost two years to Covid-19 but post the pandemic she has been part of the team.

In one of the league matches this season, against Pondicherry, she picked 7/10 in six overs as Delhi romped home to an eight-wicket win.

“I came to Delhi when I began playing cricket. I wanted to do something different, and was encouraged by parents. I used to play at home. I was good at studies. Told parents that I want to play cricket, they supported,” says Madhu, who is pursuing BA (Final) from Maharishi Dayanand University in Rohtak.

Like most youngsters pursuing the sport, she also had to make a choice between studies and it.

“When I was giving my class 10 exams, these coincided with matches, so I decided to do my class 10 and 12 from NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling).

Madhu’s father is a farmer but due to illness and age isn’t able to farm anymore. That makes her a bread-winner for her family.

“I have to take care of half of the expenses of my family,” says Madhu, who has three other sisters (two of them married) and a brother who is working in Delhi.

She is currently staying and training at CPS Cricket Academy in Loni and is determined to do well and represent India.

“I have to look for employment now as I need to support my family and myself.”

Tags : Madhu Dhama, Delhi Cricket, Women's cricket, BCCI, Tanisha Singh, Loni