Fast and Fearless:
Construction at practice ground can’t bowl out coach Sharandeep Kaur’s mission to nurture budding stars
02 January, 2026 – Jalandhar : For years, girls from diverse backgrounds in Jalandhar have been pursuing their passion for cricket, striving to make a mark in the sport.
Many of them train at Burlton Park here. With construction underway at the park, women’s cricket coach Sharandeep Kaur has been arranging practice sessions at alternative locations to ensure that their training
continues uninterrupted.
At present, around 25 girls — aged 11-20 years — are receiving free cricket training, facilitated by the Jalandhar Cricket Association (JCA). Kaur, who coaches the girls, plays a key role in nurturing their talent and guiding them towards their dreams.
In view of the ongoing construction, Sharandeep has decided to form a dedicated cricket club specifically for girls, named ‘Fast and Fearless’.
The initiative will involve parents as well, with the aim of identifying a dedicated place for practice until work on Burlton Park is completed.
“I want to engage as many girls as possible through this club, so that more of them can realise their dreams,” Sharandeep said, adding that parents, and the district cricket association, had been lending support to the initiative.
The Tribune had interacted with three young cricketers — Rajni, Khushboo and Mithi, all aged 16 — who described cricket as both a passion and an emotion.
Their fathers work in factories, and, despite financial challenges, the aspiring players make it a point to head to the ground for practice immediately after school. They closely follow televised cricket matches, and dream of, one day, being watched by others on screen.
Khushboo, who began practising cricket nearly three years ago, said buying a cricket kit was difficult for her family due to financial limitations.
“But my father told me that if this was my passion, I should pursue it. He said he would do whatever it takes for me to achieve my dream,” she said.
With the formation of the new club, Kaur hopes more girls from Jalandhar will take up the sport, and get a platform to excel.
A physical education teacher at a government school in Adarsh Nagar, Kaur has been associated with the school for several years and continues to play a vital role in promoting girls’ cricket in the district.
The Tribune