26 Apr 2025
By Huw Turbervill
A former India captain who has joined the club as assistant director of youth coaching says every time she comes to Beddington “her heart fills with happiness”.
Chanderkanta Kaul, a specialist batter, played in five Test matches and 31 one-day internationals for India, before moving to England to play for Middlesex. She now coaches here on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, working with the director of junior coaching, the award-winning Asad Butt.
“Asad and I did a coaching course together,” she said. “He said Beddington was a fantastic club, which it is. I started in January, and I coach the boys and girls, and do one-on-one coaching.
“I find it very friendly here… I loved the clubhouse, the park and the members. They have shown me lots of respect. When I come here, I feel happiness in my heart. I already have deep feelings for this club.
“I’m still learning myself, I’m open-minded. Cricket is my passion. I want to give back to the game, to the youngsters. I urge them to try to have standards, and be professional from the beginning.”
Chanderkanta was a late developer in cricket, but soon progressed from playing for her state to the national team.
“I started playing ‘gully cricket’ (street cricket) at 15 with my two older brothers in Jalandhar, in Punjab, in India,” she said, “It was fun, but I was always competitive – I was determined to do as well as them.
“I went to study in the city, and I saw girls were playing in teams, which was great, and I was soon playing for Punjab state. I then played for North Zone, and after seven or eight years I played for Railways. They are a government department. I had an office job a few hours a day, filing, and practised my cricket six or seven hours a day.
“I broke into the Indian team playing in the 1993 World Cup in England. We finished fourth. In my debut Test I scored 74 against New Zealand at Nelson in 1995. In my fourth Test, I made 67 against England at Hyderabad (now Deccan) in late 1995.
“Then, four years later, I led India here against England in three ODIs – we won 2-1 – and a Test at Shenley, which was drawn. I enjoyed the experience, but there was lots of pressure on me, captaining my country. I scored 48 and 66 in the Test, my last, and 58 at Trent Bridge in the third ODI. Being skipper brought me some fame.
“I finished playing for India in the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand, making 80 against Sri Lanka at Lincoln. We lost in the semi-finals to the hosts – this was before T20 had started!
I then played for Gunnersbury CC, and Middlesex, until 2008. I played alongside Charlotte Edwards – now the England coach – and England allrounder Beth Morgan. I started coaching in 2007, at schools, lunch and after-school clubs, and did Dynamos and All Stars for Middlesex and the England and Wales Cricket Board. Now it’s great to be helping Beddington.”