When Uma Chetry touched down in Assam on November 6, the cheers that echoed through the airport were more than a welcome — they were a celebration of a dream realized. The young wicketkeeper-batter from Bokakhat had become the first from Northeast India to represent the country at the Women’s Cricket World Cup — and returned home a world champion.
From Late Call-Up to World Cup Winner
Uma’s entry into the World Cup squad came unexpectedly. Drafted in as a replacement for the injured Yastika Bhatia, she was suddenly called into action mid-match against New Zealand when Richa Ghosh suffered an injury. Three days later, she officially received her maiden ODI cap from Smriti Mandhana ahead of India’s final group fixture against Bangladesh.
By November 2, the story had turned historic — India defeated South Africa in the final to clinch its first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup. During the team’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon after, Uma shared how torrential rains almost ruined her debut hopes — but her determination refused to let the moment slip away.
A Journey Rooted in Humility
Uma’s story began far from cricketing hubs — in Kandhulimari village, about 10 km from Bokakhat in Assam’s Golaghat district. The youngest of five children in a family dependent on farming, she grew up where floods often disrupted daily life.
Her first bat was plastic, bought at a Durga Puja fair when she was just three. Soon, she was playing with the boys in her neighborhood before joining the Bokakhat Town Cricket Club under coach Mahboob Alam. “She used to come to practice wearing slippers,” Alam told Sportstar in an interview. “We’d help with whatever gear we could. Even today, after everything she’s achieved, she remains grounded and disciplined.”
Her mother, Dipa, always encouraged her. “I never thought cricket was only for boys,” she says. “I wanted her to play, to dream.”
Hard Work in Silence
Uma’s climb through Assam’s cricket structure wasn’t without setbacks. After being dropped during the 2016–17 season, she asked Alam to coach her full-time. “She would finish her chores and reach the ground by 5:30 in the morning,” Alam remembers. “That discipline set her apart.”
Her commitment paid off. Uma broke into the India A squad and was part of the side that won the ACC Women’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in 2023. When she returned home from that triumph, the people of Bokakhat celebrated with a rally draped in Phulam Gamusas — Assam’s traditional symbol of honour.
A Symbol for the Northeast
From a flood-prone village to the world stage, Uma Chetry’s journey embodies persistence and pride. Her story is now a source of inspiration not only for young cricketers in Assam but across the entire Northeast — a reminder that talent, when matched with resolve, can rise from anywhere.
