Has Indian women's cricket truly entered its golden era now?
There was a time when women’s cricket in India lived in the shadow of the men’s game. Matches received little television coverage, players struggled for recognition, and even talented cricketers often remained unknown outside dedicated cricket circles.
That India no longer exists.
Today, Smriti Mandhana is a household name. Harmanpreet Kaur has become one of the most recognisable faces in Indian sport. Young stars such as Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shreyanka Patil command massive social media followings and enjoy celebrity status that would have been unimaginable a decade ago.
WPL launched in 2023
The biggest turning point was undoubtedly the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023. For the first time, Indian women cricketers had access to a professional franchise ecosystem, world-class coaching, sports science support and the opportunity to compete alongside the best players in the world. The WPL has since become one of the fastest-growing women’s sporting leagues globally and has significantly strengthened India’s talent pipeline.
But leagues alone do not define a sport’s coming of age.
What truly changed perceptions was India’s success on the field.
Watershed moment arrived in 2025
The watershed moment arrived in 2025 when India won its first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. For generations of players who had come close but fallen short, it was a historic breakthrough. Harmanpreet Kaur herself later described the victory as a moment that gave belief to young girls across the country and showed that the highest stage was within reach.
Cricket academies reported rising enrolment among girls
The impact was immediate. Cricket academies reported rising enrolment among girls, sponsors increased investments, broadcasters expanded coverage and women’s cricket began occupying mainstream sporting conversations rather than being treated as a niche event.
Expectations have changed
The current Women’s T20 World Cup is further evidence of that transformation. India entered the tournament not as underdogs hoping to spring a surprise, but as one of the favourites. Victories against strong opponents and the attention surrounding players like Harmanpreet, Smriti and Deepti reflect how expectations have changed. India is now judged by whether it can win trophies, not merely compete respectably.
Yet it would be premature to declare the journey complete.
But parity still remains some distance away
Women’s cricket still receives a fraction of the attention, sponsorship and grassroots infrastructure enjoyed by men’s cricket. Attendance outside major tournaments remains inconsistent, and many domestic players continue to face challenges that their male counterparts do not. India’s women’s game has grown enormously, but parity remains some distance away.
Perhaps the better conclusion is this:
Women’s cricket in India has not merely “arrived”; it has crossed a crucial threshold.
It now has stars, a successful professional league, a World Cup title, growing commercial support and a generation of girls who see cricket as a realistic career rather than a distant dream.
For decades, the question was whether women’s cricket deserved a place in the spotlight.
Today, the question is whether it can build a lasting dynasty.
That may be the clearest sign yet that Indian women’s cricket has truly come of age.
ANASUYA ROY