In late October-early November 2025, Devika Vaidya watched her state team Maharashtra lift the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy Elite title and Team India clinch a historic ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 title, all on a TV in a hospital in Pune as her four-month-old son Dhruv was getting treated for a viral illness. Almost exactly a year on from what was an extremely challenging time for her, an emotional Vaidya stepped onto the field as the Captain of Maharashtra for their Senior Women’s T20 Trophy 2026-27 campaign opener.

“I watched both the finals from the hospital NICU. From there to leading the team in the first match of the next season, I don't know what to say, as I had tears in my eyes when I played the first match,” Vaidya told BCCI.tv.

“When they (Maharashtra) last played, I was in the NICU, nowhere close to the ground, and then cut to the first match of the (new) season, I was leading the side and going for the toss.”

It was a first professional game in two-and-a-half years for the 29-year-old all-rounder, who last competed in the Senior Women Inter Zonal Multi-day Trophy in April 2024, before taking a break for her wedding. During the time away, Vaidya - who has represented India in 12 ODIs and 17 T20Is - had not set any timeline for a comeback. In fact, a comeback itself wasn’t set in stone.

Today, Vaidya has set a shining example for women aiming to return to top-level sport after childbirth, and she is one of the very few Indian cricketers to have done so.

Watching some of her former teammates lift the World Cup trophy inspired Vaidya to return to the game and hopefully experience the same herself someday. However, she had an even bigger motivation.

“I think God has given us women the superpower of multitasking and I think all women must make full use of it,” said the former Asian Games gold medallist. “Even if you have a family, you can (play cricket). By doing this, you're going to inspire your kid. My son is seeing what I'm doing and he's going to get inspired, and that is my greatest motivation. I want him to see the world with me.”

“If you have the right people around, they are always going to be there to support you.”

Vaidya, who kept working on aspects of her fitness even during pregnancy, started training again three months after the baby was born. The support from family and especially her husband, Meghan, played the defining role in her comeback. Right from helping her manage her schedule to being in the right mental space, they ensured she could focus on her training and practice while being stress-free about little Dhruv’s well-being.

“They made sure that I just go and play or do my gym routine, to help keep me fresh mentally because the first few months initially with the baby are very intense. They were like, ‘Don't think about the bigger picture right now, just think about what is going to help you stay mentally present.”

In the group stage of the ongoing Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, Vaidya picked up 10 wickets from seven games, including two 3-fers, and even scored a crucial 46(41) vs Bengal. Her returns are already impressive for the fact that this is her first tournament at this level in a long time. At the same time, she is balancing her duties as a mother while on tour for the premier domestic women’s T20 tournament in India.

“My son traveled with me to Nagpur as well for the practice games, and my husband was also there with me. So that made it very easy for me, because as a family, I just wanted to recreate whatever we have at home in Pune, on the tours. And he’s very happy with his dad,” said Vaidya, further highlighting how her husband’s calm presence has immensely contributed to helping her focus on cricket.

“For the first few days, I was so nervous. Then my husband reminded me that our baby will catch whatever I was feeling, sort of like a chain reaction. It is wonderful to watch how that bond works between a mother and a child. So when I was relaxed, he was relaxed as well.”

Vaidya’s return to training was far from straightforward and it took a while to gather strength, both physically and mentally. With time, efforts from herself and her family, and a bit of co-operation from her baby boy, things began to fall in place.

“I knew that if I want to make a comeback, I will have to train myself as well as my son that I will be gone for some time, but I'll make sure that I'm going to come back to you,” said the leg-spin bowling all-rounder, reflecting on the challenging yet rewarding time.

“For my body to get back in shape, it did not take much time, but mentally it kind of took a toll on me for the first few weeks…I used to manage my training routines according to my feeding routines. Slowly, both me and my son got used to this routine.”

“As a family, we have put in so much effort just to make sure that I play well and enjoy again. So I feel I should give it back to them. That feeling is always there, and I feel lucky that my son is also cooperating, and my husband is always there to support me. That has played the biggest part in my journey.”

Alongside her family, Vaidya’s good friend, Maharashtra teammate and current Team India player Tejal Hasabnis has also stood by her like a rock. Be it during pregnancy, after childbirth when she regularly trained with Vaidya, or by motivating her to keep going time and again, her childhood friend has been a constant presence.

“I don't think anyone else has seen me in all phases of my life like Tejal has. She has always had that confidence in me, and even today she has confidence in me. Off the field, it has been family, but on the field she has been there with me throughout.”

Vaidya, who represented India at the 2018 and 2023 editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, shares another vivid memory from her experience of watching the 2025 World Cup with Hasabnis. One that further inspired her comeback.

“During the World Cup Tejal and I used to talk that both of us should play at least one World Cup together.”

Having already led by example for mothers aiming to return to cricket, Vaidya is only just getting started in this exciting new phase of her career.

“Apart from my son, that is the only thing on my mind now,” Vaidya was quick to state when asked about the dream of playing for India again.

- By Aayush Majumdar