Distinction for Diana di

Before a crowd of nearly 33,000 spectators who had gathered at the Wankhede Stadium to witness the World Cup semifinals being played between India and New Zealand on November 15, 2023, Diana Edulji was honored as the first Indian woman cricketer to be inducted to the ICC (International Cricket Council) Hall of Fame. On being presented the Hall of Fame cap by legendary West Indies cricketer Sir Vivian Richards, Edulji declared, "It is an absolutely great honor to be here, to be felicitated by the ICC (the global governing body for international cricket) on my home ground.” She further thanked the ICC, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Mumbai Cricket Association for all their support.

Clockwise from above: Hall of Fame cap; Diana Edulji; at an interview with Ian Bishop

Diana Edulji in august company (top row, l): shaking hands with Rajiv Gandhi; (standing 6th from l)

as captain of the national team in 1986; (2nd row, l): receiving Padma Shri from K. R. Narayanan;

Arjuna Award from Zail Singh; (3rd row, far l): as manager of the Indian team in UK in 2009

With Edulji, the two others to be inducted to the ICC Hall of Fame "class of 2023” were former India opener Virender Sehwag and Sri Lanka’s Aravinda de Silva, introduced as the "three greats of the game.” To pay tribute to "their glittering career on the field and their overall contribution to the sport,” the highlights of their careers with commendations from their peers were flashed on the large screen for a few moments once the Indian team had finished their 50 overs and the New Zealand team were to start their innings.

At the celebratory dinner the prior night at Taj Land’s End, host Ian Bishop, sponsors, commentators and the invitees had an opportunity to interact with the new inductees. As per the identity numbers assigned to the inductees, Edulji stands at 111, she informed Parsiana in a telephone interview. She becomes the ninth Indian to join this distinctive league, the earlier eight being male cricketers. Among women globally, she is the 12th, with five Australians, five Britishers and one New Zealander before her. And, among Parsis, she is the only cricketer.

While she had been informed about this honor in September, she was sworn to secrecy and "I was not permitted to share the news even with my family,” she revealed. Launched in 2009 as part of the ICC’s centenary year celebrations, the Hall of Fame includes new inductees each year. There is a three to five-month selection procedure and the decision is taken by the ICC without consulting the cricket boards in any country, she has learnt.

Recognized as "a true pioneer for India’s female cricketers,” on the official website icc-cricket.com, Edulji was lauded for making "as big an impact on the field during her playing days when captain of India as she did as administrator… It is perhaps off the field that Edulji had an even greater impact, having played a major role as a trailblazer for India’s women’s cricketers for many decades.”

As a right hand batter and left hand bowler who played 54 test matches for India between 1976 and 1993, she made her mark as a slow left arm spinner who netted more than 100 wickets for her country. The cricketer continues to hold the record of "the most deliveries by any woman in the history of Test cricket with only two women who have taken more wickets than her.”

Initially playing with the boys in Badhwar Park, where her father Fram, an officer in Western Railway had been allotted residential quarters, she was spurred to better her game and joined the Albees, the first club for female cricketers in Bombay started in 1969 by Aloo Bamjee. Edulji gave credit to Bamjee for being "the pioneer of women’s cricket in India, a disciplinarian but kind-hearted person.”

"Diana di (abbreviated version for didi — elder sister) was like an elder statesman… she led the way for so many of us,” acknowledged cricketer and commentator Anjum Chopra in a video on the ICC website. "Holding the flag for women’s cricket,” she could lighten the atmosphere in the dressing room and, if she was on your team, she would fight for every single run. Yet another broadcaster Natalie Germanos described Edulji as "relentless… she could bowl all day. She was the captain to a T.” Broadcaster Harsh Bhogle described Edulji as being "tough, outspoken… Her contribution to women’s cricket is immense, monumental.”

The Arjuna Award that she won in 1983 Edulji considers as validation from the sports fraternity; the Padma Shri that was conferred in 2002 as an honor by the nation; and the induction into the Hall of Fame "as recognition for me and my country by the main cricket body.”

During her years of association with Western Railway where she was employed until 2016, she strove hard for equal rights for Indian female cricketers. The foundation that she laid can be seen to this day with 12 members of the Indian team for the recent ICC Women’s Cricket Cup having enjoyed an affiliation with the Railways.

Until 2019 she served on the four-member Committee of Administrators appointed by the Supreme Court to supervise the management of BCCI and had even served on the three-member steering committee tasked with forming the Players’ Association where all cricketers could raise their concerns. Continuing to take an avid interest in the game and following it intently, the 66-year-old stated, "I am willing to be mentor,” when required for the BCCI, the Indian Premier League or the franchisees. Her commitment to improving the game is known to all cricket enthusiasts.

"In the near future, I see no Parsis making a mark. I don’t know whether they are not interested or don’t want to work hard,” she commented. Seeing more women drawn to careers other than sports, she remarked, "Even cricket is a career. If you really work hard, it is rewarding.”