When Harmanpreet Kaur’s Team India lifted the coveted ODI Women’s World Cup on Sunday, it was an overwhelmingly emotional moment for the Bucket Hat Cult, a collective that has been steadfastly supporting the Women in Blue through the years.
“India’s win against South Africa was everything we thought it would be. There was a rain delay, but just delayed enough so that we had 50 overs, right? We lost the toss, which at this point I’m like, if Harmanpreet Kaur wins a toss, it is going to throw our entire team’s juju off. So, I am glad she lost the toss,” said Radha Lath Gupta, one of the co-founders of the club.
On a serious note, Gupta, who says the club members call themselves “loud and proud supporters of Indian women’s cricket, added, “The win was a long time coming because we have always been so close, yet so far. Unfortunately, we have lost games so many times in winnable situations, and I think Jemi [Jemimah Rodrigues] also mentioned that in the post-match conference in the semi-final. About 50-60-odd Bucket Hatters were sitting in the stands, chanting with our loud voices. The energy was good at DY Patil Stadium, which we now consider to be our fortress. It is the impenetrable fortress of Indian women’s cricket, which is very hard to breach. The win was also really special because it went into the wee hours because of the delay, but the kind of energy in the stadium can’t be replicated anywhere else.”
It’s been quite the journey for the group, who first met in early 2023 at women`s cricket matches after connecting on X (formerly Twitter) and through mutual friends. “We found a shared passion for women’s cricket at a time when the stands were often empty, so we decided to unite our voices and ensure the players felt supported,” they say.
The turning point came during the back-to-back women’s Test matches India hosted in December 2023—first against England at DY Patil, followed by Australia at Wankhede. By then, the group had grown into a loud, enthusiastic team of eight to 10 people, all connected through a WhatsApp group.
The ‘Bucket Hat’ name stuck after Gupta, who wore a bucket hat for practical reasons to shield herself from the heat, realised that players like Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana started recognising them because of it. Gupta also shared that their connection with ‘Sanjay Dada,’ who sells bucket hats outside Churchgate station near Wankhede, helped solidify their identity, further tying them to the bucket hat culture.
Interestingly, they continue the fan legacy of Mumbai’s North Stand Gang, which has been coming together since 2009 – giving the city not one but two groups, if not more, of hardcore cricket fans.
Jemimah Rodrigues gives autographs after India’s recent win over New Zealand
Gupta added, “Each and every person on the team, including Pratika Rawal, who is unfortunately injured, deserves the win. We have had setbacks, but the best part is that we have now learned how to come back from them.”
It is only fitting then that they make a promise. “The Bucket Hatters are very proud of this team, and we promise to continue travelling and following this team, to whatever extent possible, and make sure they can hear us, whether they are in Australia, England, or DY Patil in Mumbai. We just want them to enjoy this moment because they have made us proud, and they deserve every bit of it,” concluded Gupta, on behalf of the Bucket Hat Cult, as she juggles her fandom and day job, like so many other cricket fans in Mumbai.
2023
Year Bucket Hat Cult started convening
