As India’s Women in Blue shine bright worldwide in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, they serve as an example of what can be achieved when opportunities and resources are made available to everyone, regardless of gender.

Women’s cricket in India has been a long-standing and underappreciated aspect of the country’s sports culture. Although cricket is widely considered a religion in India and the cricketers are worshipped like gods, the women’s side of the sport has been largely ignored for far too long. However, this is starting to change, and women’s cricket in India is finally getting the recognition it deserves.

The journey of women’s cricket in India began in the early 1970s when a few passionate women took up the sport. In 1973, the Women’s Cricket Association of India was officially registered and became a member of the International Women’s Cricket Council. This provided a platform for women cricketers to showcase their skills and develop their careers. Over the years, the sport has grown significantly, and the Indian women’s cricket team has made great strides in terms of performance and recognition.

Cut to the 21^st century, the women in blue have made a lasting impact ever since with the following noteworthy positions –

1. ICC ODI World Cup Finals on 2 occasions –
   1. 2005 losing to Australia
   2. 2017 losing to England.
2. ICC ODI World Cup Semi-finals on 3 occasions –
   1. 1997 losing to Australia
   2. 2000 losing to New Zealand
   3. 2009 losing to New Zealand
3. ICC T20I World Cup Finals on 1 occasion –
   1. 2020 losing to Australia
4. ICC T20I World Cup Semi-Finals on 3 occasions –
   1. 2009 losing to New Zealand
   2. 2010 losing to Australia
   3. 2018 losing to England
5. Silver medal in 2022 Commonwealth Games
6. Winner of all Women’s Asia Cup except the 2018 edition.

All these significant achievements showcase the team’s hard work and determination. These tournaments also brought attention to sensational players like Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jhulan Goswami, who have become household names in India. Today, the Indian women’s cricket team is ranked fourth in the ICC Women’s Rankings, a remarkable improvement from their eighth-place ranking in 2015.

Women’s cricket in India has come a long way since its inception in the 1970s. The rise of women’s cricket in India is a new start for women’s empowerment. The sport has provided women with a platform to showcase their talents and prove that they are just as capable as men when it comes to playing the sport. Women’s cricket has also challenged the traditional gender roles and expectations that have long been a part of Indian society.

Another turning point in the history of women’s cricket in India came in 2022 when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced to offer equal pay scale to the Indian men and women contracted cricketers, setting a milestone in the journey of women’s cricket in India. The decision to provide the same match fee for both men and women players is a step toward promoting pay parity in a patriarchal society and combating discrimination. Most importantly, it is a testament to the hard work and determination of the female cricketers who have paved the way for this change. It is a reminder that women can excel in any field they choose and that there should be no limits to what they can achieve.

As women’s cricket continues to grow and evolve, it is hoped that more young girls will be inspired to take up the sport and that the Indian women’s cricket team will continue to make their mark on the world stage.

Also Read:- Future of Indian cricket