Life in second innings, with Pravin Tambe

Pravin Tambe's life story is an extraordinary example that age or a prescribed pathway are no barriers in cricket. Long before he became the oldest debutant in IPL history at 41, Tambe was solely driven by an unshakable love for legspin bowling. Today, this stubborn faith is shaping a new generation of women cricketers at the Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League.

Tambe's foray into women's cricket was just as accidental. In 2013, nine-year-old Palak Dharamshi walked into Tambe's cricket academy in Mumbai. Her basics were flawed, but she had intent. Tambe, fresh off his maiden IPL stint, took her under his wing. Within a couple of years, Dharamshi was picked in Mumbai's age-group side at 11.

That selection call changed something for Tambe. "If someone could start from scratch and go on to play for Mumbai in such short time, why not many?," he wondered. Tambe, father to a daughter himself, decided to open his academy's gates for young girls free of cost. He went on to build a women's team for local cricket tournaments.

When Gujarat Giants approached him ahead of the third season of the WPL, Tambe did not hesitate. It felt like a natural progression—from coaching one girl in his academy to becoming the spin-bowling coach of a professional women's franchise.

Two seasons in at the Giants, and Tambe's work revolves around the idea of trust—the trust in bowlers' skill-set and the trust between a spinner and her captain.

"In a practice session, I focus on how I can enable them to build that trust with their captain because, I believe, it's the captain who handles the spinners eventually on the field. I try to encourage them to have interactions with their captain," Tambe says.

"Trust is built in the nets, and demonstrated on the field. Your captain needs to know what your strengths are, what your fields are, so that she knows what her options are. It's never ideal if your captain doesn't know the full scope of your skills."

Conversations on adding variations are saved for off-season camps. "Reading the conditions well, understanding the nature of different wickets, the bounce and the grip… what variations to bowl and when," are areas he works on with spinners of all experience levels.

In the rapidly-evolving women's game, where high totals are common, Tambe's messaging remains consistent: don't abandon what brought you here.

"If you've reached a level as big as WPL, the skills already exist. The actual battle is the understanding of when and how to use them. More importantly, trust your skills. Even on days when you get smashed. Because if, under pressure, you try something you've not practised, there's a greater chance of it backfiring."

Beyond the WPL, Tambe remains passionate about building pathways for women, both through his own academy and at DY Patil Stadium, which now offers employment alongside training. For many girls from middle-class backgrounds, this financial security has been a game-changer. Humaira Kazi (Mumbai Indians) and Saima Thakor (UP Warriorz) have gone on to play in the WPL, with the latter making her India debut.

For Tambe, these are not mere statistics but a validation that belief, when combined with access, can transform careers. He's experienced it first-hand.