When Indu Barma received a direct approach from Canada’s Toronto Sixers, she could barely digest the news. Becoming only the third Nepali female cricketer—after Rubina Chhetry and Sita Rana Magar—to play in a major overseas franchise league, the national team allrounder and skipper went on to lift the championship title in her debut T10 stint.

In an interview with Kantipur’s Sabina Karki, Barma reflects on her whirlwind Canadian campaign, sharing dressing rooms with global icons, and what her milestone means for the future of women’s cricket in Nepal.

The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How did the opportunity to play in Canada come about—and what was the overall experience like?

When officials from the Toronto Sixers first reached out, I genuinely couldn’t believe it. They were looking to build a diverse roster with players from different countries, and once we spoke, I said yes. Going into the tournament, I had a mix of excitement and nerves because it was my first time competing on a global stage alongside elite international players. I played four matches, and we ended up winning the championship. To go from feeling uncertain about how I would perform to lifting the trophy was surreal. The entire franchise made it feel like home, and it’s an experience I will cherish forever.

This was your first time playing the T10 format. How different was it from T20?

The T10 format is pure adrenaline. Matches wrap up in just half an hour, making it far more volatile and thrilling than T20 cricket—the momentum can swing completely in a matter of balls. What also impressed me was the professional environment. The biggest difference lies in role clarity: every single player knows their exact job and executes it. Our team was exceptionally well-balanced, and everyone backed each other up.

You shared the stage with some of the biggest names in world cricket. What was it like being around them?

Seeing legends like Yuvraj Singh, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Moeen Ali, and Fatima Sana right in front of me was a dream come true. I managed to have a proper conversation with South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp. Hearing how top-tier players approach fitness and mental resilience gave me a real 'wow' moment—it showed me the vast standard gap and gave me something concrete to bring back to my own game. When I had to face Kapp's bowling in the final, I was initially terrified, but my teammates backed me. Kapp threw a ball outside off, a zone I like to play in, in which I got the winning run and helped my team win the title.

How did it feel representing the country, and were international players aware of Nepali cricket?

Following in the footsteps of Rubina didi and Sita didi is a deeply proud moment for me. Carrying Nepal’s name onto an international stage and receiving messages from the younger generation saying they feel inspired makes all the hard work worth it. What surprised me was that foreign players actually knew about Nepali cricket—not just the men's team, but our women's team as well. The only bittersweet part was that the tournament coincided with the Women’s Asia Cup, a tournament Nepal could have been playing had everything gone our way.

Looking ahead, Nepal is set to co-host the U19 Women's World Cup. How do you view this next phase in Nepali women’s cricket?

Co-hosting the U19 World Cup is a massive milestone for Nepali women’s cricket. It gives our young players an unprecedented platform to test themselves on home soil and helps us gauge exactly where Nepali women’s cricket stands internationally. As for the senior squad, everyone is training hard wherever they are. Wins and losses are part of the game, but with major domestic tournaments like the PM Cup and the 10th National Games ahead, our focus is on building consistency and taking Nepali women's cricket to greater heights.