MUMBAI: In a move to redefine perceptions, ahead of the women’s key cricketing season, sports brand Puma India launched a campaign with woman cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh, amongst others – as true gamers. Giving a fresh spin to its property, Cricket Is Everyone’s Game, the sports brand executed a photoshoot with the cricketers, headlining — You Need Balls.
The imagery captures the cricketers in poses and looks to put the spotlight on their record-breaking achievements. Apart from Harmanpreet and Richa, the photoshoot also features Sajana Sajeevan, Hemalatha Dayalan, and Asha Sobhana.
Kaur, captain of the Indian cricket team and Puma ambassador, “There’s no denying that cricket has historically been a male-dominated sport, but we women are fiercely changing that perception. We’ve been on a mission to shift the narrative since Puma’s groundbreaking Cricket Is Everyone’s Game campaign, and this fresh take hits home as it reminds everyone of what truly matters in cricket. Whether you’re batting, bowling, ‘keeping, or fielding, it’s all about balls. We’re here to change the conversation and show that true glory is earned ball-by-ball.”
It took 115 balls for Kaur to stare down Australia and smash an unbeaten 171 runs, propelling a win in 2017.
In 29 balls, Richa Ghosh smashed her way to a record-breaking 64, becoming the highest-scoring wicketkeeper-batter, against UAE in 2024.
It took 52 balls for Asha Sobhana to make her mark, clinching a 4-wicket haul with a stunning 4/21 on her debut against South Africa in 2024.
Hemalatha Dayalan’s unbeaten 41 off 24 nail-biting balls led her team to victory over Bangladesh in 2024.
To clinch an unbeaten victory, Sajana Sajeevan needed only one ball for a match-winning six at Bengaluru, 2024.
Ghosh, wicketkeeper-batter and Puma ambassador said, “Every ball in cricket presents a new challenge, and that’s what makes the game so exciting. Success is defined by how you handle each ball you face, every time you step onto the field. Whether you’re behind the stumps or at the crease, you need balls to ace the game. I am extremely happy to be a part of such a historic campaign with PUMA.”
With this campaign, Puma India looks to shift the conversation from tokenism and outdated notions of ‘balls’ to celebrating the grit, determination, and achievements of our cricketers. The sports brand has long been a strong advocate of how cricket is not just a gentlemen’s game and has been taking significant efforts to shatter gender biases and champion women’s sports.
Karthik Balagopalan, MD Puma India said, “At Puma India, we have been strongly advocating that Cricket Is Everone’s Game. Our new campaign powerfully accelerates this belief, headlined by our incredible cricketers Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh. Sport is for all and we as a brand will continue to drive change and create inspiration for the future generation of athletes.”
Puma India has ambassadors that comprises athletes, including para-shooter and double gold medallist Avani Lekhara, Paris 2024 bronze medallist Sarabjot Singh, national hockey team captain Salima Tete, boxing champ MC Mary Kom, cricketers Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami, Gen Z cricketers Riyan Parag and Nitish Kumar Reddy, 200m para world champion Simran Sharma, to the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals teams.
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