18-year-old becomes youngest Indian woman to smash List A double century, cracks 27 boundaries in 209-run knock in team's winning cause

Eighteen-year-old Neelam Bhardwaj from Uttarakhand has scripted history as she has become the youngest Indian woman to score a double century in a List A match. Her unbeaten 202 off 137 balls helped Uttarakhand notch an emphatic 259-run victory over Nagaland in the Senior Women's One Day Trophy on December 10, Tuesday.

Neelam Bhardwaj scripts history with List A double hundred

Neelam Bhardwaj's superlative knock, which was decorated with 27 boundaries and 2 sixes, turned heads.

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Nagaland's innings collapsed under the relentless pressure exerted by Uttarakhand's bowlers, as they were bowled out for 112 runs. Veteran Indian bowler Ekta Bisht led the charge, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul with a robust economy rate of just 1.40. Bisht's exceptional leadership, combined with Bhardwaj's brilliance, secured a comprehensive victory for Uttarakhand.

Bhardwaj's achievement adds to the growing list of remarkable feats in Indian women's cricket. Earlier this year, Shweta Sehrawat set a new benchmark by scoring a double century in a List A match. This year has been a significant milestone for Indian women's cricket, with young talents like Bhardwaj and Sehrawat demonstrating their exceptional skills on the domestic stage.

The elite group of Indian women cricketers to achieve double centuries includes renowned players like Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj. Mandhana's unbeaten 224 for Maharashtra U-19 against Gujarat U-19 in 2013-14 remains a testament to her exceptional talent. Similarly, Mithali Raj's historic 214 against England in 2002 stands as the highest individual score by an Indian woman in Test cricket.

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Who is Neelam Bhardwaj?

Hailing from the challenging environment of the Kumaon slums near Ramnagar Railway Station, Neelam Bhardwaj's journey to cricketing success is a testament to her unwavering determination. Her father, a daily wage laborer, was the sole breadwinner for the family. However, a tragic accident in 2020 left the family in a dire financial situation.

Despite these hardships, young Bhardwaj, who began playing cricket at the tender age of eight, received invaluable support from Mohammad Israr Ansari, who generously covered her early cricketing expenses. At just 12 years old, she impressed selectors during U19 trials, overcoming initial skepticism due to her diminutive stature. With the intervention of a BCCI selector, she secured a place in the team, marking the beginning of her remarkable rise.

Bhardwaj's recent double century is a significant milestone, and her name is poised to resonate throughout the national women's cricket scene. Her journey from the slums to the cricket field is certainly an inspiration for many.