Cricketer Uma Chetry tells PM Modi: Every time I make my debut, somehow it rains
Agartala Nov 7: For Cricketer Uma Chetry, Durga Puja holds a special place in her heart — a festival that once inspired a young girl from rural Assam to dream big. When she was three, her tryst with cricket began with a plastic bat and ball which was bought from a Durga Puja pandal, Sportstar wrote in an X post.
Today, that same girl has etched her name in history as the first women cricketer from the Northeast to be part of India’s World Cup-winning women’s team.
Uma’s rise to glory, however, was far from easy. The youngest of five siblings in a family dependent on farming, she grew up amidst financial struggles. With a plastic bat in hand and unshakable determination in her heart, she began her cricketing journey on the fields of Kandhulimari village, overcoming every obstacle that came her way.
Her call-up to the Indian ODI World Cup squad was nothing short of dramatic. Brought in as a late replacement for the injured Yastika Bhatia, Uma found herself behind the stumps during India’s crucial must-win clash against New Zealand.
Just three days later, she received her maiden ODI cap from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana before India’s final league match against Bangladesh — a proud moment that marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career.
Although she did not play in the final, Uma’s inclusion in the historic squad itself was a landmark moment — a testament to her perseverance and a symbol of the growing strength of women’s cricket in Assam and the Northeast.
Following India’s title triumph, celebrations continued in New Delhi, where the victorious team met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 5. For Uma, standing among the champions of the world was a dream fulfilled — one born in the humble lanes of her village and realized on cricket’s grandest stage.
Her Interaction with PM:
Uma Chetry: Sir, I honestly don’t know what to say standing in front of you.
Prime Minister: Just say whatever comes to mind.
Uma Chetry: Sir, that was my debut match. And every time I make my debut, somehow it rains! It happened that day too. It rained, so I could only do wicketkeeping. But still, I was really happy because making a debut for India and that too in a World Cup was a huge thing for me. I was very excited about that match, determined to give my best for the country. I wanted to make sure that my efforts helped India win. The best part was that the entire team trusted me, everyone was coming up to talk to me, guide me, support me and that meant a lot.
Coach: She’s the first girl from the North East to play for India.
Prime Minister: From Assam, right?
Humble and grounded yet a symbol of determination and resilience, Uma Chetry arrived at Guwahati on November 6 amidst cheering of cricket enthusiasts. In an X post today, Assam Cricket Association wrote,
“Welcome home, champion! Assam celebrates you with immense pride and love.
Assam Cricket Association family warmly welcomed Assam’s pride, Ms. Uma Chetry, at LGBI Airport, Guwahati, as she returned home after creating history by winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with Team India”.
ACA Apex Council Member Mukuta Nanda Bhattacharjya, APL Governing Council Chairperson Rajdeep Oja, and ACA CEO Pritam Mahanta extended a heartfelt felicitation for her remarkable feat and outstanding contribution to Indian cricket. Uma’s remarkable journey from a small-town dreamer to a World Cup champion stands as a beacon of inspiration for countless aspiring cricketers across the Northeast.”
Sportstar, in an X post, highlighted Uma’s journey from Assam to World Cup cricket ground in a crisp manner.
Uma Chetry, the youngest of five siblings, hails from the Kandhulimari village – which still floods a few times a year – roughly 10 km away from the Bokakhat district of Assam.
When she was three, her tryst with cricket began with a plastic bat and ball which was bought from a… pic.twitter.com/jRilIVoSty
— Sportstar (@sportstarweb) November 4, 2025
