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Anju Jain

Anju Jain is an Indian former cricketer who represented the India women's national cricket team as a wicket-keeper and right-handed batter. She later transitioned into coaching and has been associated with women's cricket development at both the domestic and international levels.

Full name Anju Jain
Country India
Role Wicket-keeper, right-handed batter
Batting style Right-handed
Formats played Test, One Day International (ODI)
Later career Coach

Background

Jain emerged through India's domestic women's cricket circuit during a period when the sport was administered by the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI), prior to its merger with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2006. She served as captain of the India women's team during her playing years, leading the side in international fixtures.

Playing career

As a wicket-keeper-batter, Jain was known for her steady glove-work and dependable batting in the middle order. She participated in Test matches and ODIs for India, including World Cup campaigns, and was a senior figure in the squad through the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Coaching career

After retiring from competitive cricket, Jain moved into coaching. She has worked with the India women's team as head coach and has also been involved with age-group and domestic sides. She additionally took up coaching assignments with the Bangladesh women's national cricket team, contributing to the development of the sport in South Asia.

Honours and recognition

Jain is a recipient of the Arjuna Award, conferred by the Government of India for outstanding achievement in sports.

Significance

Jain belongs to a generation of Indian women cricketers who played in an era of limited resources and infrastructure for the women's game. Her subsequent coaching roles have placed her among the small group of former internationals who have shaped the post-WCAI era of Indian women's cricket.

References