8 Indian Women Cricketers who made it to the MCC's honorary life members list

Despite achieving glorious feats, the International Women's Cricket team of India or Team India Women hardly makes headlines, which are dominated by the men's side. Although the team had been playing quite a few matches both domestic as well as out of the country, it only got official recognition from the BCCI a few years ago.

But as the preamble of cricket says, 'show self-discipline even when things go against you', Team India Women has shown considerable poise and valour, both off and on the field.

How invaluable is an MCC life membership?

The MCC, or the Marylebone Cricket Club, awards honorary life memberships to some of the finest players the sport has seen. It is considered a list of the who's who of cricket, players who will go down in history. It is an honour denied to many and bestowed to a select few.

As of 2017, 358 players, both male and female, from cricket boards who are a member of the ICC, have received the honour. Out of these all-time greats, 32 have adorned the blue jersey either as a player or captain.

The first name from India made it to this enviable list in the year 1969 when MCC honoured the glamour boy of Indian cricket, the noted southpaw and former Indian captain, Nari Contractor. It was after a long wait of 47 years that the MCC's Honorary Life Members list saw female cricketers from India honoured.

Let's meet these fiery eight golden girls of Indian cricket who made it to the top despite all odds.

Anjum Chopra: Former Indian captain and batswoman and keeper

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 Headshots — Anjum Chopra

Anjum caught the attention of fans with her match-winning century against England in 1999. The pioneer of the famous 'lazy elegance' style of batting, she was coached by former Indian cricketer Sudha Shah, who, interestingly, is also a part of the MCC's honorary lifetime members. Here is the southpaw's scorecard:

Sandhya Agrawal: Former Indian captain and batswoman

Often regarded as India's run machine, Sandhya played some record-breaking knocks during her cricketing career. The fiery all-rounder broke the 50-year-old record of highest runs in women's Test Cricket with her 190 run innings against England in 1986.

This former Indian captain is currently the chairperson of the girls' U-19 and senior women’s team at the MPCA. Here is the all-rounder's scorecard:

Gargi Banerji: Former Indian cricketer and batswoman

Gargi Banerji made her international debut in Cricket against England in a World Cup match at Eden Gardens when she was 15. With a consistent track record, she was equally impressive with the ball as with the bat. The current chairperson of the Indian women's cricket team selection committee, she holds the unusual record of scoring the maximum Test runs without a contributing century. Here is the all-rounder's scorecard:

Diana Fram Edulji: First Indian captain and all-rounder

Popular as India's most successful female cricketer, Edulji holds the record for the maximum wickets (120) in the game. Another feather in the former captain's cap is the record of bowling the maximum number of deliveries ever by any female cricketer across the world (5000 plus).

While many anecdotes surround the former left-arm spinner, the one that deserves mention is the time when she stated that the MCC be renamed as MCP - which stands for "male chauvinist pig" since they denied her entry at the Lord's Pavilion - only because she was a woman.

Here is the legendary spinner's scorecard:

Sashi Gupta: Former Indian cricketer and all-rounder

Shashi Gupta donned the blue jersey from 1984 to 1993. This was also the period when a comparatively lesser number of matches were played in Indian women's cricket. Despite limited opportunities, the current national selector at BBCI showed exemplary determination and continued playing for as many domestic, national, and international matches as possible.

The former right-handed batswoman and medium pace bowler was a part of the 1983 Indian Women's World Cup squad, sharing the field with the likes of Edulji and Sandhya Agarwal. Here is the former all-rounder's scorecard:

Shubhangi Kulkarni: Former Indian cricketer and bowler

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 Governor General's Function — Shubhangi Kulkarni - Extreme Right

Shubhangi is one of the select few bowlers with a record of maximum five-wicket hauls. The former leg-spinner and current ICC women's Cricket committee member, Shubhangi was a part of the Indian squad for both the 1978 and 1983 women's world cup. Here is the former leg-spinner's scorecard:

Shantha Rangaswamy: Former Indian cricketer and batswoman

Shantha Rangaswamy is the first female recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the BCCI.

Among her many other first achievements, some really outstanding and remarkable feats include being the first female Test captain of India, being the first female to score a Test century for India, first female cricketer to score an ODI half-century for India and the first woman to hit a six in a Test match among others. Here is the gifted all-rounder's scorecard:

Sudha Shah: Former Indian cricketer and all-rounder

Credited with the maximum number of Test innings, Sudha was an elegant copybook cricketer. The former coach of the Indian national team, she was a part of the 1978 World Cup squad as well.

The famous all-rounder made it big both with the bat and ball during her heyday in cricket. Here is her scorecard:

Towards the end, an honorary mention for someone who has not yet found her place in this elite list but shall do so definitely; Mithali Raj, current captain of the Indian team and a player like no one else.

Her remarkable performance has lead India to glory twice in the ODI World Cup finals, a feat no male player has ever achieved. She is also the highest female run scorer in the history of ODIs with more than 6000 runs, and also the first ever female cricketer to hit seven consecutive ODI 50s.

We can just hope that the day is near when we add the ninth name to this wonderful list of female cricketers who have brought glory to the country.