India’s women cricketers have made history at the ICC World Cup — a moment built on years of persistence, reform, and hard-won recognition
Once dismissed as an afterthought, women’s cricket struggled for funding and visibility. Players often paid their own way to tournaments abroad
Change began when the BCCI introduced equal match fees in 2022 and launched the Women’s Premier League in 2023 — steps that changed the game
With ~₹90 crore in prize money and sponsorships rising, women’s cricket is now a viable career. Institutional backing made this possible
Pay disparity persists. Top male players earn up to ₹7 crore annually; women’s retainers peak at ₹50 lakh — a gap driven by fewer matches and lower viewership
Globally, women in most sports earn less, not for lack of talent, but due to limited tournaments and sponsor bias. It’s time the game caught up with its audience