As the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues, millions of young girls are watching our cricket stars and dreaming of following in their footsteps. But while fans celebrate wins on the field, parents may learn an equally important lesson off the field. The stories of some of India’s top women cricketers show that long before the trophies and limelight, it was their parents who were the biggest support system for them. Here are five lessons parents can learn from the families of these cricket stars. Love your child unconditionally, especially during difficult stages. Indian batsman Jemimah Rodrigues has been candid about her struggle with anxiety despite her success on the field. During those difficult moments, it was the unconditional support of her parents, Ivan and Lavita Rodriguez, that kept her strong. His father trained him from a very young age but his role was never limited to cricket. Jemima has often credited her parents for helping her during emotional struggles. The lesson for parents is simple: Children don’t need support only when they’re winning. They need it even more when they are struggling. Teach children to remain steadfast in both success and failure. Before every match, Indian star all-rounder Deepti Sharma takes a lesson from her mother. “Never let victory or defeat go to your head. Just keep moving forward.” This lesson feels especially relevant today, as Deepti has recently performed brilliantly in the ongoing World Cup, taking a historic five-wicket haul against Pakistan. Often children are praised only for achievements and criticized for failures, but Deepti’s mother’s message focuses on persistence. Parents need to teach their children that success is temporary, failure is temporary, but effort must be permanent.3. Don’t let society decide your child’s dreams. Today Smriti Mandhana is one of the biggest names in women’s cricket. But his journey was not free from criticism. Smriti has often talked about how her parents Srinivas and Smita Mandhana stood strongly by her when others questioned her choices. Some people even told her that it would be difficult to find a suitable match for marriage if she continued playing cricket. Instead of succumbing to social pressure, her parents decided to support their daughter’s passion. Smita Mandhana has an important message for mothers, “Let your child be who she wants to be. Not only education, but also sports are important. The story of the Mandhana family is a reminder that children are best when parents think about their potential, and not about public opinion. Raise fearless and patient children. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur often credits her mother Satvinder Kaur for shaping her personality. Kaur often talks about how her mother taught her to be fearless and patient, but the lessons she learned meant never being afraid to move forward and trust her daughters. GIVE FREEDOM The common thread connecting all these stories is not just cricket, but also parenting. These families have produced successful athletes who have learned not just “be the best,” but simply, “I believe in you.”