HISTORYMAKER! Sharanya Sadarangani became the first female cricketer to participate in the Dream11 European Cricket Series on Monday.

HISTORYMAKER! Sharanya Sadarangani sets the standard becoming the first female cricketer to play in Dream11 European Cricket Series

Sharanya, better known as Sharu, impressed as a wicket keeper for German Bundesliga Champions Kummerfelder Sportverein (KSV) in the opening match of the Dream11 European Cricket Series Kummerfeld in Germany, looking the part behind the stumps for KSV in the face of some rapid, but wayward bowling.

Speaking about her experience playing in the Dream11 European Cricket Series Kummerfeld: "It’s a fantastic competition to be involved in. Having not experienced any T10 cricket before, it’s great to get the opportunity to play in this format of the game,” she said.

Sharu, who will turn 25 in a few days’ time, is a current member of the Germany squad with international experience for Denmark and in England with Essex CCC. Formerly, she represented the Karnataka U19 state team in Bangalore alongside future India World Cup stars such as Veda Krishnamurthy and Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

“The playing conditions lets any gender play in these official matches, which are sanctioned as official cricket under the Deutscher Cricket Bund under the Federation’s ICC membership. Therefore, women are eligible if they are selected in the club’s squad,” said ECS Founder Daniel Weston.

“Cricket is a game for all and to be enjoyed by all, on and off the field. The way Sharanya kept wicket in her first match was very impressive and should be applauded and a door opener for all talented female cricketers in Europe to take their own cricket to higher levels,” he added.

“I was especially impressed with her first caught behind off the bowling of former Afghanistan international Izatullah Dawlatzai. I used to keep wickets to Izzatullah in the past and I know they come quick and can swing late. What Sharanya has done today will only see her improve further and take more catches in the matches to come!”

“Sharu is an excellent player who also contributes immensely to the growth of the women’s game in Germany,” said Brian Mantle, CEO of the Deutscher Cricket Bund (DCB).

“It’s great to see women’s cricket growing,” he added. “We hope to see women’s cricket shown on the European Cricket Network very soon.”

Every game this week from the Dream11 European Cricket Series Kummerfeld, Germany is live streamed worldwide on the European Cricket Network, on FreeSports TV in UK and on FanCode - a multi-sport aggregator platform, from the house of Dream Sports for the Indian Sub-Continent.