Mithali Raj Reflects on the Transformation of Women’s Cricket in India
In recent years, women’s cricket in India has made significant strides, driven by strong performances on the field and a steady rise in opportunities at both domestic and international levels. The national team has reached important milestones, while domestic competitions have become more structured and competitive. Players, both emerging and experienced, are displaying greater confidence, technical skill, and tactical awareness, reflecting a clear shift in the standard of the game.
A major catalyst for this progress has been the introduction of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), which has not only raised the visibility of the sport but also created a pathway for young talent to develop in a professional environment. Reforms such as pay parity and increased grassroots investment have further strengthened the foundation of the women’s game. These changes highlight a broader transformation, as women’s cricket in India continues to gain respect, support, and the recognition it has long deserved.
India’s women’s team recently secured their first-ever T20I series victory in England. With a 50-over World Cup set to take place on home soil, excitement is mounting in a country that already hosts the highly successful Women’s Premier League, which ranks as the second most valuable women’s sports league in the world.
Mithali Raj on How Far the Game Has Come
For former captain Mithali Raj, the opportunities and financial rewards now available to India’s leading female cricketers in 2025 are almost unrecognisable compared to when she first broke into the national team as a 16-year-old in 1999.
During a visit to England, where she was honoured with the ringing of the five-minute bell at Lord’s ahead of the third men’s Test, she said:
“I was pretty much emptying my dad’s pocket to play for India. There was absolutely no payment. We had to buy our own equipment and try to organise our own training sessions. There were times when we’d train on matting wickets, and then we’d get a week to practice on the turf [before a match].”
Mithali said many families faced cultural and socio-economic challenges, often discouraging their daughters from playing cricket because it was seen as a men’s sport or because families needed financial support from them.
Raj made her debut for India seven years before the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took over the administration of women’s cricket following its merger with the Women’s Cricket Association of India.
She witnessed the beginning of a gradual transformation, as the women’s game began to receive better resources—including match fees and access to elite training centres like the National Cricket Academy.
To earn a living, many women cricketers held jobs, with most employed by Indian Railways, which was “the only institution that offered jobs to women cricketers in India.”
A pivotal shift came in 2015 with the BCCI’s introduction of retainer contracts for the top 11 players. Raj, nearly 33 at the time, called it a game-changing moment:
“If you are from an affluent family, you can manage to play for however long, because you do not really have to think about how you are going to run your house. But if you are not, you would think, what next? Where am I going to earn money? Contracts gave that safety for the national players. They know, ‘OK, I can play, and I can earn.’ That was huge for us.”
The 2017 World Cup Final: A Watershed Moment
Mithali Raj identifies India’s appearance in the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s as a turning point. It was only the third ICC-organised Women’s World Cup and the first where every match was broadcast live—either on TV or through digital streaming.
The ICC’s digital and social media platforms recorded 100 million video views, underlining the tournament’s unprecedented reach.
“Until then, we really did not have that sort of coverage. Digital media was relatively new in 2017. It really doubled up the sort of coverage that women’s cricket needed,” Raj said.
Although India lost the final to England, the event drew record attention. According to India’s Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), the match garnered 19.53 million impressions in India, surpassing even the 2016 Rio Olympics badminton final between P.V. Sindhu and Carolina Marin.
After the 2017 final, pay for contracted top-tier Indian women players rose significantly—from a reported ₹15 lakh to ₹50 lakh. By 2020, Star Sports was broadcasting India’s Women’s T20 World Cup matches in five languages. India’s final loss to Australia at the MCG was watched by a record 9.02 million live viewers in India.
Following that, in 2022, the BCCI implemented equal match fees for men and women in international cricket.
The Launch of the Women’s Premier League
After years of anticipation, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) finally launched in 2023—and it made an immediate impact.
Five teams were sold for a combined ₹4,650 crore, and Viacom secured media rights for ₹960 crore over five years. Smriti Mandhana became the most expensive player, signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹3.4 crore.
The league turned a profit and accounted for 3.9% of BCCI’s revenue in 2023–24. While the IPL continues to dominate with a 59.10% share, the WPL’s early success validated BCCI’s decision to wait for the right time.
The WPL provides potentially life-changing contracts to up to 90 players, including 30 overseas cricketers. However, outside of the WPL, most domestic players still receive only match fees and have no central contracts.
A BCCI official stated that players without a WPL contract often “fend for themselves.” While some manage with support from personal sponsors or mentors, others hold jobs, much like Raj did with Indian Railways.
Currently, 16 women hold BCCI central contracts, renewed annually and without maternity benefits—compared to 34 contracts on offer for men.
Even though WPL salaries benefit a relatively small group, the financial potential has already started shifting attitudes across India toward girls taking up cricket.
“Cricket is no longer looked down upon. It’s seen as both a sport and a profession. That’s a huge shift,” Raj added.
She credits the WPL with helping domestic players get used to performing under pressure before they make their national debut. Franchises also scout talent across the country, providing a platform for players from remote areas.
Looking Ahead: Bigger WPL, Bigger Dreams
While the pathway to the Indian team—starting from club to district, state, zone, India A, and the senior team—is now clearer, challenges remain.
Raj highlighted the difficulties still faced by girls in rural areas, where basic facilities and financial support are often lacking.
“I’ve been to districts where girls struggle to afford three meals a day. Cricket associations must reach out and offer basic support,” she said, referencing her work with the Andhra Cricket Association.
Despite these challenges, the former captain remains optimistic.
“The next step is to add a couple more teams to the WPL, because there are many good players who get left out with just five teams. And of course, winning the World Cup.”
But for Mithali Raj, the dream goes even further.
She believes that winning Olympic gold—now a possibility with cricket included in the 2028 Los Angeles Games—would be a defining moment.
“World Cups are important, but in India, an Olympic medal holds a different kind of value. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Source: BBC Sport / Test Match Special
