The Nazma Khan story: A father's belief, a mother's prayers and a WPL dream

At 30, Delhi's Nazma Khan earned her maiden WPL contract with Delhi Capitals after years of perseverance in domestic cricket. Backed by a father who never let social barriers hold her back and a mother whose prayers kept her grounded, Nazma's journey is a story of courage, family support, and the belief that dreams have no age limit.

"Uparwale ke ghar mein der hai, lekin andher nahi."

God may take time, but justice is never denied. Delhi's Nazma Khan would know that better than most. At 30, after years of perseverance and quietly pursuing her dream through domestic cricket, the all-rounder has finally received her moment in the spotlight, earning her maiden WPL contract with Delhi Capitals.

Her journey to the WPL has been about much more than cricket. It has been about having the courage to follow her passion when people questioned her choices, a father who refused to let social barriers stand in her way and a mother whose prayers and faith have remained constant through the years.

Having represented multiple teams, Nazma continued to work towards her goal even when recognition remained elusive. One of the most heartwarming moments of her journey came after India's memorable Women's World Cup semi-final victory over Australia in October 2025. Nazma sent Jemimah Rodrigues an Instagram message, expressing her dream of one day sharing the field with the Indian batter.

A year later, that wish became reality. Delhi Capitals signed Nazma for Rs 10 lakh at the Kochi auction. For Nazma, it was a moment that made years of waiting worthwhile. It was also a reminder of the people who had stood by her when the journey was far from easy.

THE GIRL WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY

Cricket was not the first sport Nazma fell in love with. Growing up, sports were an integral part of her life, thanks largely to her father, Israil Khan, a former cricketer who had also played kabaddi during his college days.

His passion gradually rubbed off on his children. He encouraged Nazma and her brother to spend time outdoors, experiment with different sports and stay physically active.

"I have played almost every sport with my father. We would go out to play football, and he would encourage us to take up cycling. I even trained with a group of boxers," Nazma recalled while responding to India Today's query, facilitated by the DDCA.

Nazma was often the only girl among a group of boys. In fact, she was probably the only girl in her neighbourhood who could be spotted playing with them throughout the day.

"I was mostly around boys. I was the only girl. In the entire block and neighbourhood, I was the one girl who would always be with the boys. You would see me playing something or the other throughout the day," she said.

A FATHER WHO NEVER LET HER STOP

As Nazma's passion for sports grew, her parents made sure that outside opinions never dictated her choices. Neither her mother, father nor brother imposed restrictions on her. They had just one expectation: whatever she chose to do, she had to pursue it with complete commitment.

"My parents always told me that it was my life and my decision. If I wanted to achieve something, it had to be my achievement. They could give me the freedom, financial assistance and emotional support, but I had to make something of that opportunity. Their only request was that I should never break their trust," she said.

That trust also came with independence. Her parents allowed her to manage her practice sessions, daily routine and the ups and downs of pursuing cricket. They were always available to guide her but never dictated how she should go about her journey.

WHEN HER CHOICES BECAME AN INSPIRATION

As Nazma's passion for cricket grew, so did the questions surrounding her unconventional choice. People would often approach her parents to ask what their daughter was doing. Their answer was simple: she played sports. But the next question was almost always about whether she earned money from it.

"People would ask my parents what I did. They would tell them that I played sports, and the next thing people wanted to know was whether I earned money from it. Initially, my mother would tell them that I enjoyed playing and that they were allowing me to follow my passion. She believed that, eventually, I would get better at it," Nazma recalled.

There were occasional uncomfortable moments with relatives, particularly over her dressing choices.

"There were occasional comments from relatives about the way I dressed. I mostly wore shorts at home, and once, someone saw me and questioned my mother about it. They even said things to me, but my parents never made me feel uncomfortable or asked me to change. They would simply tell me not to worry because the relatives would leave after a while. My parents never allowed such comments to affect my choices," Nazma recalled.

Today, some of the very people who once questioned her decisions are among those congratulating her. Her father often tells her how relatives in their village now speak proudly about her. Some have even started encouraging their own children, particularly their daughters, to pursue their interests with the same freedom.

"My father tells me that people now say they want their daughters to do something like Nazma. That feels good because, in our family, girls have not always enjoyed the same freedom as boys. I have always loved riding bikes, and it makes me happy to see other parents giving their daughters opportunities they might not have considered earlier," she said.

For Nazma, that change is particularly meaningful because she has seen how hard her parents have worked to build their lives. They started from scratch but made sure she and her brother never felt the weight of their struggles.

"I have seen my parents go through a lot. They started their journey from zero, but they never allowed my brother or me to feel that we were lacking anything because of their struggles. Whatever difficulties they faced, they kept them within the family. That has always given me a sense of responsibility. Initially, I wanted to do something for my parents and make them proud," she said.

Over time, however, her ambitions grew. Watching women's cricket gain popularity, with matches being televised more regularly and players receiving recognition, gave her a different kind of motivation.

"When you hear people say that girls are playing cricket, hitting sixes and achieving so much, it gives you a different kind of pride. I started feeling that I wanted to make a name for myself too. Today, I look up to certain people as my idols, and I want to reach a stage where others can look up to me in the same way," she said.

For Nazma, the ambition is now about creating an identity of her own.

"I want to achieve something in life that people remember. I want to create my own history, something that makes people look at me as an inspiration," she added.

FROM SCHOOL SPORTS TO A CRICKET DREAM

That enthusiasm followed her to school, where she explored several sporting disciplines. She played badminton, was part of the basketball team and also took up volleyball and football. Her interest in football was so strong that she once approached her sports teacher with an unusual request.

"I asked my sports teacher why there wasn't a girls' team. I told him that if there was only a boys' team, he should put me in that. But the principal did not allow it because there were no other girls, and they were worried that I could get injured," she recalled.

Her sporting journey eventually led her towards structured cricket training. After representing her school at the national level, a friend of her grandfather suggested enrolling her in a professional cricket academy. Soon, Nazma and her father were at RPC Academy, where her cricketing journey began taking shape.

Before joining the academy, she had attended a month-long summer camp at the National Stadium. Accompanied by her friends, she travelled by bus every day for training. Coaches from Patiala and Haryana were also involved in the camp as part of their preparations for the All India School Games.

She particularly enjoyed the fitness sessions. Running was something she had loved since childhood, and any activity that involved being outdoors and staying connected to sports came naturally to her.

Cricket also began shaping her academic journey. She secured admission to college through a sports scholarship, allowing her to continue her education without placing a significant financial burden on her family.

After completing her graduation from Gargi College, she pursued her master's degree at the same institution, again through the sports quota. She later enrolled in a Bachelor of Physical Education (BPEd) programme on a scholarship.

Her performances continued to stand out. During her first year of BPEd, her team won gold, while Nazma emerged as the highest run-scorer in the North Zone. The performances earned her and her teammates an opportunity to compete at the All India level in Mysuru.

The tournament did not begin particularly well for her. She struggled to make a significant impact during the league stage but saved her best for the biggest occasion. In the final, she produced a match-winning innings to help her team lift the title.

Recalling that knock, she drew a comparison with Jemimah Rodrigues' memorable innings against Australia in the World Cup 2025 semifinals.

"It was like the innings Jemimah played against Australia. I played my best innings in the final and helped my team win," she said.

It was a significant moment in a journey that had started with a young girl simply wanting to play every sport she could. With her father's encouragement and her own determination, cricket had gradually become much more than a childhood passion.

A SPECIAL PLACE FOR EVERY VICTORY

While her father helped her find her feet in sports, Nazma's mother has been her constant source of faith and emotional strength.

Every trophy and medal Nazma brings home has a special place in their house at Chhatrapur. Her mother has made it a ritual to kiss every trophy before placing it beside the Quran Sharif. Despite their modest home, there is a dedicated space for her daughter's sporting achievements.

"Whenever I win a match and bring home a trophy, my mother comes forward with so much love, kisses it and then places it beside the Quran Sharif. Our house is not very big, but she has kept a special space for all my trophies there. Even today, whenever I return with a medal or trophy, she first kisses me, then kisses the trophy before placing it there. Whenever my friends visit, my family switches on the light and proudly shows them that section of the house," Nazma said.

The ritual is a reflection of how deeply her mother's faith is woven into the family's life. She has always taught Nazma that honest intentions, a clear conscience and complete dedication matter more than anything else.

"My mother believes that if your faith is strong, your intentions are pure and you never think badly of anyone, the Almighty will always guide you. She has always told me to do everything with a sincere heart, give it your complete effort and put in 100 or even 200 per cent. Once you commit to something, there should be no ifs and buts," she said.

CONSISTENCY, THE KEY TO HER JOURNEY

For Nazma, commitment does not end with making a decision. She believes that pursuing a goal requires the same dedication even when the initial excitement fades or the results take time to arrive.

That philosophy has helped her remain disciplined on days when motivation is difficult to find. She believes consistency is as important as talent and that the people around a player can make a significant difference.

"I am very grateful to have such supportive juniors and close ones who constantly motivate me. There are days when you don't feel like training or following your routine, but you still have to maintain the same discipline. Your surroundings and the people around you matter a lot," she added.

A LONG WAIT, FINALLY REWARDED

While her journey has been shaped by the support of her family and an unwavering belief in herself, Nazma has also let her performances do the talking on the cricket field.

Born on May 8, 1996, the right-handed batter and right-arm off-spinner has represented Uttarakhand Women, Delhi Women, Nagaland Women, North Zone Women and North Delhi Strikers Women.

One of her standout performances came in the 2025 Senior Women's Inter-Zonal T20 Trophy, where she finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Vaishnavi Sharma. Representing North Zone, Nazma picked up 12 wickets in five matches at an average of 7.75 and an economy rate of 5.63.

She also made her presence felt in the Delhi Premier League. In the 2026 season, she was part of the North Delhi Strikers side that won the women's competition. She played an important role in their title-winning campaign, including an unbeaten 24 off 19 balls in the final against South Delhi Superstarz, helping her team complete a six-wicket victory.

Her performances continued into the 2026-27 Senior Women's T20 Trophy, where she scored 114 runs in six matches at an average of 28.50 and a strike rate of 152. She also picked up five wickets.

Nazma enjoyed an equally impressive 2025-26 Senior Women's One Day Trophy campaign. She finished as the tournament's highest wicket-taker, claiming 24 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of 4.92. With five three-wicket hauls, she finished ahead of Poonam Yadav, who took 23 wickets, as Delhi went on to clinch the title against Railways.

30 AND JUST GETTING STARTED

For Nazma, turning 30 has never meant that time is running out. Her journey is a reminder that dreams do not come with an age limit and that a breakthrough can arrive even after years of waiting.

"I have never really felt that I am 30. My body and mind still make me feel very young. I have never allowed age to become a pressure factor because, at the end of the day, what matters is what you bring to the team. How much you contribute and how important you are to your team as a player matter more than your age. If I give 200 per cent, why should anyone question my age?" she said.

The stories of Sajeevan Sajana and Asha Sobhana offer similar reminders. Both earned their India opportunities after years of perseverance, showing that talent and determination can find their way to the top even when recognition comes later than expected. While Indian cricket continues to invest in young talents such as Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud and Niki Prasad, there is room for late bloomers like Nazma too.

Her parents gave her the freedom to choose her path. Her father stood by her when others questioned her choices, while her mother's prayers kept her grounded through the difficult days. Now, the same journey that once invited questions has become a source of pride for the family and an inspiration for others.

The WPL contract is not the end of a long wait; it could well be the beginning of something bigger. Nazma has already fulfilled one dream by becoming Jemimah's teammate. There are more milestones she wants to achieve, and at 30, she is in no mood to slow down.

For a girl whose parents never asked her to give up on her passion, the biggest reward is perhaps knowing that she never gave up on herself.