The Harmanpreet Kaur–Smriti Mandhana era in Indian women’s cricket appears to be having a ripple effect off the field as well, with participation in the sport doubling in 14 states since 2020, according to a study commissioned by the BBC and Collective Newsroom.
The survey, which included more than 10,000 women, found that the proportion of women who say they play cricket has risen from five per cent in 2020 to 10 per cent now. Participation among young women grew even faster, with 16 percent of women aged 15 to 24 saying they play cricket, compared to six percent in 2020.
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“The research also found that one in four young women aged 15 to 24 had considered sport as a career option,” the study said.
Indian Women’s Cricket: The Golden Prediod
The surge in participation also coincides with a successful phase for the Indian women’s team, which recently won its first ODI World Cup and defeated Australia in a bilateral three-match T20I series for the first time in a decade.
Cricket has now overtaken the traditional sport of kabaddi by a wide margin among women in the surveyed states.
“Cricket also strengthened its position as the most played sport among women in the states surveyed. It narrowly overtook kabaddi in 2020, but new figures suggest it is now firmly ahead,” the report said.
Participation increased in most regions, with all but two of the states surveyed reporting an increase in the number of women playing cricket. The sharpest growth was recorded in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where participation increased tenfold from one percent to 10 percent.
The gender gap is narrowing
The gender gap in cricket participation has also narrowed. The study found that for every woman who plays cricket, three men now play the sport, compared to one in five in 2020.
Interest in pursuing sports as a career has also increased among young women. About 26 percent of women aged 15 to 24 said they considered a career in sports, up from 16 percent in 2020. The highest interest was recorded in Tamil Nadu (27 percent), Madhya Pradesh (19 percent) and Meghalaya (19 percent).
The study also noted an increase in female badminton participation, particularly in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
However, safety concerns remain a barrier for many women who want to participate in sports. According to the report, 13 percent of women who do not play a sport cited safety concerns as the reason.
Rupa Jha, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Collective Newsroom, said the findings show both progress and ongoing challenges.
“The findings show both progress and persistent barriers. While participation and viewership are growing rapidly, stereotypes and practical challenges persist.
“We hope this data will stimulate further discussion and action to support female athletes.”
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
13 March 2026 18:07 IST
