Ichkela’s Daughters Script Cricketing History, Honoured by CM Sai

Raipur, March 2026 : Rising above limited resources and challenging circumstances, the young girls of Ichkela village in Jashpur district have scripted a remarkable success story in cricket, emerging as an inspiration not just for their district but for the entire state.

Recognising their outstanding achievements, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met the players on Saturday at the Multipurpose Indoor Basketball Stadium in Jashpur Nagar. He felicitated them and presented cricket kits to boost their morale, while extending his best wishes for their bright future.

A total of 16 girls from the Government Pre-Matric Girls’ Hostel in Ichkela have delivered exceptional performances in cricket, bringing laurels to the district at the national level. Addressing the players, the Chief Minister praised their hard work, discipline, and dedication, stating that these qualities had helped them reach such heights. He encouraged them to continue striving for excellence and to keep bringing pride to the state and the country.

Ichkela MCC has now emerged as a promising cricket academy, where around 40 girls are currently receiving regular training. Among them, 17 players are representing Chhattisgarh in Under-17 and Under-19 state-level competitions, consistently delivering impressive performances in board matches.

The year 2025 marked a historic milestone when the Sarguja division clinched the gold medal in the state-level Under-17 cricket tournament after a gap of 25 years. The contribution of Ichkela MCC players was crucial to this achievement, with 9 out of the 11 players in the winning team belonging to the academy.

In the Under-19 category as well, the Sarguja division secured a silver medal, with 8 out of 11 players coming from Ichkela MCC. Further showcasing their talent on a larger stage, the girls excelled in the 2025 inter-state cricket tournament held in Raigarh, where they competed against teams from across the country and secured the first position.

So far, 11 players from this group have participated in national-level competitions, representing both the district and the state with distinction.

Behind this success story lies the dedicated guidance and mentorship of coaches Santosh Shankar Soni and Pandari Bai, whose commitment has played a vital role in nurturing these young talents.

The journey of Ichkela’s daughters stands as a powerful testament to the fact that with determination, passion, and the right support, even limited resources cannot hinder the path to success.