How a mixed-gender tournament is changing the game

In several villages across Madhya Pradesh, a cricket tournament has been sparking conversations on gender. The Samaveshi Cup features 102 teams from the districts of Harda, Khandwa, Guna, and Barwani. Each team comprises seven to eight girls and four to five boys. The teams are led by a female captain and a male vice-captain.

But getting to this stage wasn’t easy.

Forming a team was a challenge because in many villages, even casual conversations between boys and girls are frowned upon. Parents were initially hesitant to let their daughters play alongside boys, making recruitment difficult. In Nimacha village, Harda, some girls had to tell their parents they were going for coaching (tuition classes) when they were actually heading to practice. Community disapproval was strong, with people making disparaging remarks about the girls who participated.

We, along with other captains, vice-captains, and leaders from Synergy Sansthan, held continuous meetings with parents, gradually convincing them to let their daughters play. The region, home to a large Adivasi population, faces challenges such as alcohol abuse, which puts many young boys at risk. The cricket tournament became more than just a game—it offered a much-needed distraction. 

Once practice sessions began, new obstacles emerged. Communication between boys and girls was awkward at first, and the girls—many of whom were playing cricket for the first time—sometimes faced criticism from their male teammates. But over time, friendships formed, understanding grew, and the teams began to win. This boosted the girls’ confidence to lead and taught the boys to respect and collaborate with female leaders. 

Playing under female captains allowed the boys to witness girls making decisions, strategising, and leading teams to victory. Many boys who had reluctantly joined their mixed-gender team now credit the tournament for changing their perspective. “Playing under a female captain has been an eye-opener. It’s made me realise how much we miss out when we don’t give girls the same opportunities,” one of our team members shared.

And as both of our teams began winning matches, community disapproval started transforming into support. In one match, a team that had been expected to lose managed to win against a previous champion. This success turned scepticism into pride, and community backing grew. Now, parents who had once opposed the idea were asking to enrol their daughters in the teams.

What started off as a tournament is shifting attitudes and opening doors for the next generation of young girls from this area. 

Neha Sangulle is the captain of her team from Nimacha village in Harda district. Tejram is the vice-captain of his team from Saliyakhedi village in Harda district.

Shruti Thakur, programme coordinator at Synergy Sansthan, also contributed to this article. 

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