“This was my first trophy after assuming the captaincy of the team, and at the same time, it was a special moment for me to score 1,000 runs in Twenty20 International cricket,” expressed Indu Barma, captain of the Nepal women’s cricket team, after winning the five-match Twenty20 International series against Malaysia in the first week of October.
Nepal won the series 3–2 against Malaysia. Moreover, Captain Barma, 28, also became the first Nepali woman cricketer to score 1,000 runs in Twenty20 Internationals. Indu’s first international appearance came at the ACC U-19 Cup in Singapore in 2010 at the youth level. At the senior level, she began representing Nepal in 2011. However, it was only in 2019 that Nepal was granted Twenty20 International status. Within six years, she achieved the 1,000-run milestone after scoring 15 runs in the fourth T20I on October 7. Barma then played a captain’s innings to lead a six-wicket win against the home team, scoring an unbeaten 48 runs.
According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), Barma reached the milestone in her 77th Twenty20 International. She has one half-century, an unbeaten 55 runs against Qatar in Doha in 2021.
Former Nepal men’s cricketer Shakti Gauchan commented that the captain is a highly talented player. “She is one of the best players. She is one of the best all-rounders,” Gauchan said. “Over the last two to three years, she has shown her leadership, and she can take responsibility in crucial moments. She can give at least five more years to Nepal.”
In her 78 Twenty20 International career, Barma has hit 73 fours and three sixes. Barma now tops Nepal’s all-time women’s T20I run chart, ahead of Sita Rana Magar and former captain Rubina Chhetry. To date, Rana Magar has scored 965 runs in 62 matches, whereas Chhetry has 931 runs in 79 games. Captain Barma said both Rana Magar and Chhetry might also cross the 1,000-run record. “I want to do my best for the country, and I am happy to achieve this milestone,” she added.
The right-hand batter and right-arm medium-pace bowler Barma joined the Nepal team at an early age with immense talent and potential. She is one of the team’s most experienced players.
Indu was born in Baglung district in Gandaki Province, Nepal. After her family migrated from Baglung to Rupandehi in Lumbini Province, she had the opportunity to play cricket at Apex Boarding School. After her father sent money to the family, she moved from a government school to Apex in grade five, where she could take up cricket. A teacher at the school encouraged her to play.
Fortunately, the school had hired former national team captain Basanta Shahi as coach, giving her a valuable opportunity to learn from an expert. Though she came from a humble background, she persevered and became a cricket star in Nepal. Barma concluded, “I want to perform better from my side and win trophies for Nepal.”
