Mumbai:
13 March 2025, Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. This is the 15th over in the innings of Gujarat giants, chasing a long target of 213 sets by Mumbai Indians, to determine who will play Delhi capitals in the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL) final. The world’s best white-ball is bowling for cricket all-rounder, Natalie Skivor-Bunt, Simran Sheikh of Gujarat, who has come to bat at #8 with GG at 114/6.
But this is not just a veteran fan of Gujarat who pray for a miracle. In the heart of Mumbai, in the slums of Dharavi, with son -in breath, Simran’s family and her hundreds of friends and well -wishers – can it be time for 23 -year -old Dharavikar to shine?
On the next six balls, Simran Sheikh illuminated the life of his fan-dome for two 4s and a luxurious 6. After a few balls, he was rejected after a Quickfire 17 on just 8 balls.
For India, Mumbai, Dharavi – Simran Rocks
She could not do enough to defeat Mumbai Indians that day, but we can choose by any yardstick, Simran Sheikh Rockstar is already – women’s cricket in India, in Mumbai, and most importantly, the largest slum in India, where she was born and brought up.
Yes, in fact, we must celebrate Simran Sheikh and his incredible story. This daughter of an electrician, who played the role of street cricket in Dharavi, who defeated incredible obstacles to rub the shoulders with the world’s best cricketers.
In December 2024, Simran made headlines when he was selected for a large scale by Gujarat veterans in the most expensive uncapricated Indian player WP Mini-e-Cocktoation for Rs 1.9 crore. “Initially I was just hoping that some teams would take me. But then the amount crossed Rs 1 crore, and was in shock, I was speechless. Suddenly all my hard work was recognized,” Simran told NDTV.
Up to Rs 1.9 crore from 10×16 feet room
Just consider obstacles – Simran is the third of the seven children, to live in a family of eleven to live and grow up, which had only 10×16 feet room to manage. Like millions, other residents of Dharavi had no proper access to tap water, for cleanliness, proper healthcare or education, or any kind of public places. Surrounded by toxic levels of pollution, almost nothing through waste management – in this worst -serving part of Mumbai, many other lukewarm holders, like many other lukewarm holders, Simran found just a way to succeed, but to super -get it.
Talking to NDTV, Simran says she was never conscious of obstacles against her as a slum. She knew that she loved cricket, a game that included a ball as much as she could. She was just focused on an obstacle – the boys were getting her to play. She recalls, “As a child, I keep asking boys that I let me play cricket with them.
Simran has done cricket in his gene
Cricket was also in his gene. Simran’s father Zahid Ali Sheikh was a talented bowler when he was younger. In the 1990s, he was popular in the tennis ball cricket circuit beyond Dharavi. But he regrets that he could not take his talent to the next level.
“Our family was poor. When people talk about leaving food due to lack of money, it is also the story of our family. I had to start working to support the family, so I left my love for cricket,” Zahid misses.
But when Simran shattered the windows and rated the metal grills in Dharavi’s bouquets, and earned a lot of honor of boys than on him at the cricket field, his parents decided to fully support him. “Simran was playing cricket all the time. When the complaints started coming about breaking things about Simran with their big hits, I realized that she had unusual talent,” Javed says.
“Can a girl play cricket?” How Simran silenced his critics
There was another pressure, Simran’s mother remembers Akhtari Bano. “Our community is not common for a girl to play cricket. People said unpleasant things about Simran. They questioned our parenting. But my husband and me, and her brothers and sisters, we just wanted to fulfill Simran’s dreams. She wanted to play cricket, and it was to help us.”
But Simran had some people who also supported him. His talent was first seen by his teacher Pushpa at RC Mahim School. “Pushpa Maam suggested that we allowed Simran to focus on cricket. He said that Simran did not enjoy studies, but she could be really a great player,” says Simran’s mother. Simran quit the study after class 10, and focuses completely on cricket.
Finance was another obstacle, but here too people moved to help. “The owner of this sports shop saw that I needed another 1,500 rupees to buy a cricket kit.
Simran’s family’s story is similar to millions of residents of Dharavi. His grandfather Tayab Ali landed in 1965 in Bombay, in search of work from Gonda district of North Predesh. He did a strange job to live life for himself and his family in Dharavi. Zahid also had to struggle to end.
Many Simran Sheikh of Dharavi
Today, after a full 60 years, the fate of the family has finally become, riding Simran’s unusual cricket talent. But here are some questions that we should ask – should a family take 60 years to succeed? Why should they be kept in such a serious harm by staying in poverty, or slum? Is it appropriate that for Simran Sheikh’s family, three generations have been made to improve their lives in life?
From Dharavi to WPL, Simran’s journey is unique. But Dharavi’s bouquets are full of talent. From business to manufacturing, music, dance, cricket and even academics – Dharavikars have excelled in every field. In fact, the slums of Mumbai, and thousands of slums in the cities of India, can give us many Simran Sheikh. But are we doing enough to support them?
The people of India’s slums are equal partners and are equal shareholders in the progress of the nation. But not more often, they do not receive services, civic amenities, or meditation that are due to them. Certainly, it is food for the idea, for all of us.
Dharavi is Telling Us – ‘Apna Time Aa Gaya’
Today the media has turned into Simran Sheikh’s house in Dharavi, and for 15 minutes, the ‘unused talent’ of Dharavi is celebrated. But what is needed for this attention, and to make this support institutional.
When we asked Simran what he planned to do with his Rs 1.9 crore, he just said, “Buy a big house. The family wants a big house for years.” Simran knows that he is a path-breaker, and hopefully he will be the first of many more cricketers emerging from Dharavi. “I want to tell other girls of Dharavi that they can achieve big things. They should follow their dreams, and it will happen.”
Simran Sheikh and his talent, and in fact millions of millions of deprived fellow citizens of India cannot be ignored. We should listen, as Simran tells us all – Apna time has come!
