When Uma Chetry landed in Assam on November 6, the cheers at the airport told a story far greater than just a homecoming. The 21-year-old from Bokakhat had returned as a World Cup winner — India’s first-ever women’s ODI World Cup champion and the first cricketer from the entire Northeast to represent India on the sport’s grandest stage.

Uma’s World Cup debut was anything but scripted. Drafted in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Yastika Bhatia, the wicketkeeper-batter found herself thrust into the middle of India’s must-win clash against New Zealand when Richa Ghosh picked up an injury. Three days later, she officially received her maiden ODI cap from Smriti Mandhana ahead of India’s final group game against Bangladesh.

By November 2, India had completed its fairy-tale run — b

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