Sep 26 2025 to Sep 26 2025 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Before the spotlights, who kept the women’s game alive?

In 2017, India’s women cricketers came heartbreakingly close to a World Cup win at Lord’s. That match lit a fire, changing how the country saw its women athletes, and laying the foundation for today’s Women’s Premier League – the first women’s sports league to turn profitable even before a single ball was bowled.

It’s the first time since that iconic evening at Lord’s that the Women’s World Cup is set to be hosted in India.

This session will celebrate those forgotten days when world cups in India were played in front of empty seats, even when the cricket itself was no less significant. Bringing these narratives to life are Karunya Keshav, Ananya Upendran, and Aayush Puthran. This is a chance to hear directly from some of the best storytellers on women’s cricket.

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Speakers

Ananya Upendran
Writer & Former Cricketer
Ananya Upendran, a former Indian cricketer, has transitioned into a dynamic career in cricket development, scouting, and media. She currently scouts for Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and heads the Equal Hue Cricket Excellence Programme at GoSports Foundation, empowering aspiring female cricketers. As a sports journalist, her bylines include Wisden India, Women’s CricZone, Scroll, The Cricketer, and ESPNcricinfo, where she has amplified women’s cricket coverage. In 2023, she was part of the commentary panel for the inaugural ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup. Combining playing experience with journalism and mentoring, she is a passionate advocate for women’s cricket.

Karunya Keshav
Editor, Sportswriter & Advocate for Women in Sport
Karunya Keshav is an independent editor, writer, and advocate for women’s sport whose work spans global publications and platforms. She has written for Wisden, the BBC World Service, ICC digital platforms, and featured on the RCB podcast. Karunya is co-author of The Fire Burns Blue: A History of Women’s Cricket in India and co-led the Equal Hue research report, which proposed a roadmap for strengthening women’s cricket in India. Through her editorial work, authorship, and thought leadership, she continues to amplify the stories of women athletes and bring sharper focus to the structures needed for their sustained growth and recognition.

Aayush Puthran
Author & Journalist
Aayush Puthran is a Bangalore-based journalist and author with a strong focus on cricket and sports narratives. His debut non-fiction book, Unveiling Jazbaa: A History of Pakistan Women’s Cricket, was shortlisted at the Sunday Times British Sports Book Awards in 2023. His work as a journalist has earned international recognition, including a longlisting at the prestigious L’Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive Awards. He regularly contributes to Cricbuzz, bringing depth and context to his cricket reporting. With his blend of investigative rigor and storytelling, Aayush continues to document the evolving journeys of cricketers across borders, highlighting resilience and cultural impact.