Pon Sowbagya stands out as the only woman scorer in the current eighth season of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Not only that, she is the first woman to score an entire leg of the TNPL, specifically the Tirunelveli leg. Her accomplishment adds to the few instances of women taking on the role in the league, with the only other female scorer having only been assigned a final match.
Sowbagya, a 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter who plays for the Kancheepuram District team, found her passion for scoring through her own love for the game. She explains, “When I began playing, I used to sit out on many occasions, especially when I wasn’t in the playing XI. Even while sitting out, I wanted to be involved in the game in some way. So, when my college coach once asked me to do the scoring, I sat down with the scorers, learned how to do it, and got interested. I found that I was more focused on the match when I kept scores.” This passion led her to scoring in inter-college tournaments like the Buck Memorial and YMCA tournaments, eventually catching the eye of TNCA scorer-turned-umpire, Sivakumar, who encouraged her to pursue scoring officially.
Her journey into the TNCA league brought her face-to-face with the reality of the male-dominated world of cricket scoring. “In the TNCA league, it’s very rare to see a woman. It usually only happens when a player’s mother comes to watch the game or something like that,” she shares. Despite her initial nervousness at taking on the TNPL, Sowbagya embraced the challenge with excitement.
Her experience as a scorer has not only provided her with a unique perspective on the game but has also helped her grow as a player. “It helps, for sure. As a wicketkeeper, I’m already focused on the game. Score-keeping requires the same level of attention. I get to observe how bowlers deliver, how the pitch behaves, what shots are played under various conditions, and how the fielding is set up. Watching the game with a hawk-eye view from the outside is different.” This keen observation translates into her own game, allowing her to learn from watching others and improve her skills.
Looking ahead, Sowbagya aspires to become a BCCI scorer, emphasizing the importance of patience in this role. “In a 20-over men’s game, one innings can take around 85 minutes. To stay completely focused during that entire period, you need to have patience. “For instance, some bowlers might take seven minutes to bowl one over. You can’t get exasperated then. Other times, when the game moves fast — like when wickets are falling quickly — people, including journalists, ask for details. I can’t be rude to them in those moments.”
Recognizing the growing interest in scoring, especially among women, she advocates for greater respect and recognition for the work scorers do. “When it comes to scorers, they are not taken seriously, both by the general public and the cricket fraternity. “I’ve seen on-field umpires using mobile apps to keep scores, which can give off the idea that scoring is undervalued and that anyone can do it. However, a scoring app only shows the numbers. When we score manually, we capture detailed information, such as who dropped a catch and where. It’s not as easy as it seems. In those two seconds, we note down everything. For a dot ball, we know whether the batter was beaten or played a shot that resulted in no run. We have the complete match details in our hands!”
Pon Sowbagya’s journey in the TNPL showcases her talent and determination, breaking barriers and inspiring others while highlighting the crucial role of scoring in cricket. Her passion for the game, meticulous scoring abilities, and advocacy for the profession make her a role model for aspiring cricketers and scorers alike.
