JAI HIND COLLEGE

BASANTSING INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

& J. T. LALVANI COLLEGE OF
COMMERCE
(Empowered Autonomous)

24-25, Backbay Reclamation, “A” Road, Churchgate, Mumbai –

400 020 Bachelor of Management Studies

Rise of Women’s Cricket in India and Its Impact

on Women’s Sports

Name of the Student: Kushal Wadhwani

UID No.: 22BMS127
Name of the Guide: Ms. Sana Merchant
Date: _____________________

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my guide
Professor Ms. Sana Merchant for her exemplary guidance, monitoring, and constant
encouragement throughout this research. The blessing, help, and guidance given by her
from time to time shall carry me a long way in th e journey of life on which we are
about to embark. I am grateful to all the individuals who participated in my survey, as
their responses were crucial in completing my research. I thank the almighty, my
parents and friends for their constant encouragement without which this research
would not be possible. Lastly, I would also like to thank my college Principal Dr. Vijay
Dabholkar, BMS coordinator Dr. Rakhi Sharma, and all my professors for giving me
this opportunity to showcase my hard work.

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 DECLARATION

I, Kushal Wadhwani of Jai Hind College of T.Y.B.M.S. (Semester VI) hereby

declare that I have completed this project on Rise of Women’s Cricket in
India and its Impact on Women’s Sport in the Academic year 2024-25. The
information submitted is true and original to the best of my knowledge.

__________________
Signature of Student

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 CERTIFICATE
I, Ms. Sana Merchant hereby certify that Kushal Wadhwani of
Jai Hind College of T.Y.B.M.S. (Semester VI) has completed
the project on Rise of Women’s Cricket in India and its Impact
on Women’s Sport in the Academic year 2024-25. The
information submitted is true and original to the best of my
knowledge.

__________________
Signature of Project Guide

__________________
Signature of HOD

__________________
Signature of External Examiner

__________________
Signature of Principal

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 ABSTRACT

The advancement of women's cricket in India signifies a landmark moment in the sporting
landscape of India, shattering customs and attitudes about women's involvement and sport in
India, and creating pathways for women's participation as elite athletes. This research will
examine the course of women's cricket, the WPL, salary disparities between men and women
in cricket, the socio- cultural influence of heightened exposure in women's sports. The
research will take a mixed methods approach, combining collection of original primary data
through a survey and secondary qualitative data to examine the changes in audience
attendances and sponsorship growth, as important trends developed in both sectors
(especially in the media). The findings show that while the WPL is moving women's cricket
toward economic sustainability and professionalism, other challenges remain that limit that
potential such as pay disparities, support for infrastructure, and investment at the grassroots
levels. This study suggests there is still a need for ongoing investment in support of women's
cricket, just as importantly, the need for policy and other interventions to strategically invest
media sponsorship in women's cricket to support sustainable outcomes. This research also
suggests women's cricket is a potential moment to achieve broader gender equity throughout
sport and sport culture in India and possibly mainstream.

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Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 8
1.1 Background of Women’s Cricket in India ................................................................................ 8
1.2 The Evolution of Women's Cricket and the Functions of WPL ............................................. 9
1.3 The Influence of Women’s Cricket on Women’s Sports in India ......................................... 10
1.4 Financial Comparison: Women’s vs. Men’s Cricket ............................................................. 11
1.5 Social and Cultural Perspectives on Women’s Cricket ......................................................... 11
1.6 Women's Cricket in India is Facing Challenges and Further Prospects ............................. 13
1.7 Future Opportunities for Women’s Cricket ........................................................................... 14
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ........................................................................................................ 15
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................. 19
3.1 Problem Statement.................................................................................................................... 19
3.2 Research Objectives .................................................................................................................. 19
3.3 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 20
3.4 Data Collection Scheme ............................................................................................................ 21
3.5 Research Hypotheses ................................................................................................................ 21
3.6 Research Scope .......................................................................................................................... 21
3.7 Research Significance ............................................................................................................... 22
3.8 Research Limitations ................................................................................................................ 22
4. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ............................................................................................. 23
4.1 Pie chart analysis....................................................................................................................... 23
4.2 Comparison with Male Cricketers .......................................................................................... 33
4.3 Financial Pay Aspect................................................................................................................. 34
4.4 Cultural Aspect ......................................................................................................................... 35
4.5 Wait for the Breakthrough Moment ....................................................................................... 37
4.6 The Future Possibilities of Women’s ....................................................................................... 38
Commercial Point of View ......................................................................................................... 38
Emotional Point of View ............................................................................................................. 39
5. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 40
5.1 Breaking the Gender Barrier in Cricket................................................................................. 40
5.2 The Financial Boom and Commercial Success....................................................................... 41
5.3 Grassroots Development: The Need of the Hour ................................................................... 41
5.4 The Role of Domestic Cricket and Infrastructure ................................................................. 42
5.5 The Importance of International Exposure ............................................................................ 42
5.6 Sustaining Growth and Ensuring a Bright Future ................................................................ 42

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 5.7 WPL’s Financial Landscape: A Long-Term Investment in Women’s Cricket ................... 43
5.8 Projected Financial Growth of WPL: A Parallel to IPL’s Success ...................................... 43
5.9 The Global Shift in Women’s Sports Investments ................................................................. 44
5.10 WPL’s Role in Transforming Women’s Cricket.................................................................. 44
5.11 Key Challenges and the Road Ahead .................................................................................... 45
5.12 Final Thoughts ........................................................................................................................ 45
6. ANNEXURE..................................................................................................................................... 47
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................. 50

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1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of Women’s Cricket in India

The history of women's cricket in India is synonymous with valor, skills, and the gradual
change of attitude within society toward the fairer sex regarding sports. For the past two
decades, cricket has always been considered a male-dominated sport. Women, despite major
barriers, broke into the men's-dominated space.

Early Days of Women's Cricket in India.

It was officially in 1973 when the WCAI was formed in India, officially starting the women's
cricketing arena. Until then, they played cricket at the most substandard conditions and with
not much recognition. Against Another Cricket Team Though BCCI was well-involved in the
men's cricket arena, providing the players with everything necessary and for which the people
endorsed such cricket cricketers, women went unnoticed for decades.
Following that, the official first international match of the Indian women's cricket team was
against the West Indies on January 28, 1976, in Bangalore. The match, however, enjoyed no
fanfare or media coverage like the men's matches.
But it was, anyway, the first step taken toward a long struggle that female cricketers had to
undertake on their way toward getting their recognition, funds, and professional careers.
Though there existed not to such a time Government support for the improvement of women
in cricket and the facilities in such a sport were just so much in a staggering form which was:-
• Women's cricket suffered through thick and thin for years, with the lack of sponsorship
• The media failed to record merely the matches, and there so far was no interest shown
by the majority of sports journalists
• The infrastructure was fairly poor. The women's teams lacked reasonable access to
training camps, well-pitched practice grounds, and coaching staff.

While most have come and gone, it is the few who are still alive that torchbearer for women's
cricket in India. Legends like Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Anjum Chopra, and later stars like
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur would play the most favored part to change women's
cricket's face in India.

A tipping point was reached with increased publicity, growing corporate sponsorships, and
ultimately brought together the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2023, which gave women's
cricket in India a much-needed boost. Today, it is not just an emerging sport but also a means
for attaining gender equality in India.

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 1.2 The Evolution of Women's Cricket and the
Functions of WPL
The WPL was, without any doubt, a landmark event in the history of women's cricket in India.
Started in 2023, and modelled after the huge, big, successful Indian Premier League (IPL), the
WPL gives performing female cricketers a big opportunity: a professional stage to showcase
their talent, earn global immunity, and lead an economically viable life.

Impact of WPL on Women's Cricket

1. Increases Financial Security

For many decades now, financial instability has affected women cricketers in India because of
their poor match fees, lesser sponsorship agreements, and minimum contracts given to them
until date. With the WPL, this paradigm has shifted dramatically, with women's cricket now
offering better contracts through which they can maintain a livelihood.

2. Professional Exposure
Playing alongside International players, Indian cricketers get a chance to play in the company
of the best in the world, which will give tremendous boost to their skills and competitiveness
levels.

3. Corporate Investments and Sponsorships

Women's cricket had to struggle for sponsorship prior to the WPL. Now high-status brands
such as Viacom18, Tata Group, and Adidas are putting their money in women's cricket so that
a proper branding-marketing opportunity can be available to it.

4. Grassroots Development
The success of the WPL has made it a source of inspiration for the cricket academies and state-
level cricket boards to further invest in women's cricket at the grassroots level and thus create
a fairly steady pipeline of young talent.

5. Fan Engagement and Viewership

With marketing strategies employed along with live telecasting, the fan base for women's
cricket is growing tremendously. The first season of the WPL had millions of viewers, thereby
making an economic opportunity available to the format of women's cricket.

Challenges Despite the WPL

Despite these positives, women's cricket is still in dire straits when it comes to financial
backing, number of matches played, and overall worldwide recognition, as compared to men's
cricket.
• The total number of matches in the WPL is far too small when compared to that of the
IPL.
• Monetary value or the high pay scale of female players in the WPL do not stand
anywhere against the earnings of male players in the IPL.
• Sponsorship and endorsements for women cricketers lag far behind their male
counterparts.
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 1.3 The Influence of Women’s Cricket on Women’s
Sports in India

The emergent stature of women’s cricket has set in waves that confronted the ideas of women’s
sports in India. Female athletes in all other sports face the same hurdles on a different occasion-
these include issues of visibility in media, lack of fan following, and limited financial support.
Women’s cricket is the new girl in the block, and that should first redefine all four areas for
itself.

Impacts of Women’s Sports

1. Media Attention
More successful women’s cricket lays the path for others such as badminton, hockey, and
football. Today, more daughters in sports are in the spotlight, some even more popular than
boys.

2. International sponsorships
Starting with Nike, Puma, and Hyundai, women’s sports have captured the attention of major
sponsors that once did favors to male sports alone.

3. Professions
Leaving apart the playing arena for women, cricket has opened new doors for femininity in
being coaches, commentators, analysts, and managers.

4. Role Models
Inspired by the successes of Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet Kaur, young girls are now more
inclined toward making a career in sports and breaking traditional norms that dated back years.

5. Changing the Narratives

Women’s cricket has played a great role in challenging the stereotypical societal roles and has
once and for all proved that women can compete in any field with equal prowess.

6. Govt. aid
The Khelo India programme, as well as more cash for women athletes, have picked up pace
owing to the phenomenal success of women’s cricket.
However, there are a plethora of unshakable challenges concerning this. For instance,
inequalities lurking in pay packets, international exposure, as well as lack of infrastructure for
women in sports.

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 1.4 Financial Comparison: Women’s vs. Men’s Cricket

One of the more glaring contradictions in Indian cricket is its financial variance between men's
and women's cricket.

Financial Inequalities in Indian Cricket

1. Salary/Match Fees
For international cricket, the BCCI in 2022 had equal match fees for men and women.
However, domestic female cricketers earn far less.
2. Sponsorships
While men secure multi-million-dollar endorsements, fewer sponsorship opportunities are
afforded women players.
3. Prize Money
The IPL has several times more prize money than the WPL.
4. Media Rights Revenue
While the men bring home billions in the IPL, women’s cricket is still progressing in terms of
TV deals.
5. Facilities Investment
Men’s cricket has immaculate stadiums, state-of-the-art training centers, and high-profile
coaching staff, while women’s cricket infrastructure lacks such development.
6. Retirement Benefits
Retirement for most female cricketers would mean the start of a life of struggle, with no pension
plans or livelihood guarantees.On moving ahead, the task is not an easy one because it involves
possible continuous investments, good marketing to bring in more revenues, and getting
involved in high-profile tournaments.

1.5 Social and Cultural Perspectives on Women’s

Cricket

The rise of women’s cricket in India has influenced social and cultural attitudes, breaking long-
standing stereotypes and encouraging more girls to pursue sports as a career. However, the
journey toward full acceptance and equality is still ongoing.

Key Social Impacts of Women’s Cricket

1. Changing Perceptions about Women in Sports

For the past several decades, Indian society has viewed sports much as a men-dominated area,
where women's participation was viewed either as secondary to men's or was nothing more
than a recreational activity. Women's cricket has changed this mindset in a relatively short
period of time.
* Only some years back, a career in cricket for women was not considered suitable because of
the doubts related to the non-superstition of the field by too many traditionalist Indian societal
ideals and meeting very few expectations to conclusions.
* The emergence of such stars as Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana, and Harmanpreet Kaur could
have built some hope for parents to support their daughters wanting to play cricket as one
respectable career.
* Television coverage and social media have done a very significant job by another way in

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which they have created matriarchal idols for them, instigating millions of young girls.

2. Gender Bias and Discrimination

While great progress has been achieved, women’s cricket has still suffered from gender
discrimination in India.
* Many girls coming from rural and conservative families are thus discouraged from pursuing
professional sports as they fear judgment from the society or consider that with such a career
ahead, it would hardly benefit their future.
* All male cricketers have no doubt received great fame and sponsorship, and they play matches
in primetime, whereas under the same conditions, matches didn't have viewership among
women.
* Media usually kept on regarding women cricketers through sexist commentary steeped in
stereotypes. Instead of recognizing their feats, they were compared with their male
counterparts.

3. Media Representation: The Rise and the Gaps

The landscape for women's cricket has changed dramatically over the years.
* Earlier, there were few women's matches that could be televised, hardly any reports of them
found in newspapers, thus keeping the public unaware.
* Now, broadcasters, namely Star Sports, Viacom18, and JioCinema, have started extensively
covering women's matches, more so after the launching of the Women's Premier League
(WPL).
* However, down these women's matches against primetime games of men where the revenues
amassed through advertisements are significantly lesser.

4. Family and community support for female cricketers

Many of the top female cricketers across different eras have credited their families for their
success, families that went against social norms and expectation and encouraged them to follow
their dreams.
•The career of Mithali Raj, whose father was an Air Force officer, enjoyed family support since
cricket was not considered conventionally suitable for women.
•Smriti Mandhana's parents guaranteed her the best training opportunities, although they were
not well-off themselves.
•Many women cricketers had to bear resistance from the extended family or community but
made it through by their grit and parental support.

5. Educational Opportunities and Sports Scholarships

The game of women's cricket encouraged institutions of learning to offer scholarships and
training programs for aspiring female cricketers.
•Cricket-specific scholarships are now provided to female students by universities and sports
academies so they could do both study and sports.
•Other government initiatives, including Khelo India, also began a process of identifying and
giving monetary support to female cricketers, which included money for training.

6. The Role of Social Media

Social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube have enabled women
cricketers to build their own personal brands by pulling sponsorship and fan engagement.
•Players such as Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are some of the most-followed
personalities in Indian sports, with millions of followers.

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•Social media campaigns like Women in Sport and Support Her Game have raised awareness
and engagement around women's cricket.
However, while culture has moved forward, total equality in cricket will require constant work
at all levels, from grassroots to professional, to be realized.

1.6 Women's Cricket in India is Facing Challenges and

Further Prospects

Even while women's cricket in India has come a long way, it still faces a lot of
challenges on its way to glory.
A Few Major Problems with Women's Cricket in India
1. Limited Test Matches and Format Constraints
• While Test matches are the ultimate challenge for men's cricket, women’s cricket is
hardly ever seen in this challenging format.
• Except for a few matches spread over years, Test matches have mostly taken a backseat
compared to T20s and ODIs for the Indian women's team.
• This emphasis on short-form formats robs the cricketers of the variabilities offered by
the different conditions and skills required to perform in all forms of the game.

2. Grassroots Development Issues

• Women’s cricket needs a better grassroots setup to recognize the hidden potential of a
budding cricketer.
• There are almost no good coaching facilities in the rural to semi-urban areas, and
pursuing cricket professionally is tough for young girls.
• The state cricket boards need to invest in setting up under-19 and under-15 women's
state teams to create a perennial talent pool.

3. Pay Disparity and Constant Financial Dilemmas

• Even after the standardization of match fees for international matches, female cricketers
always earn considerably less than men.
• Domestic women cricketers continue to face great financial hardships, as they have far
lesser match fees and contracts.
• The amount provided as prize money for the WPL greatly lags behind that for the IPL.

4. Infrastructure Deficiencies with Limited Space for Training

• The majority of women's matches are still organized in smaller stadia and have had
such limited access, even now going by world standards, to structured training facilities.
• The coaching, physiotherapy, fitness training for women's teams is never of the same
quality as the men's team's.
• Better venues, gymnasiums, or rehabilitation centers are necessary, but should only
cater to women cricketers.

5. Limited Media Coverage and Sponsorships

• Despite some improvements, women's cricket still finds it tough to attract
similar television time and advertising revenue opportunities as men's matches.
• In many ways, female players have fewer financial opportunities because many brands

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take the more marketable male cricketers due to the high television ratings associated with
them.
• Encouragement from corporate sponsorships and launching campaigns may close this
gap.

1.7 Future Opportunities for Women’s Cricket

Despite these issues, the future of women's cricket in India seems bright, with certain
milestones coming into play in the near future:
1. Enlarging the WPL
Competition in the WPL, with more teams and games, will provide female cricketers a chance
to garner experience and a certain measure of monetary security. if the viewership further
improves, it may attract even more sponsors and enhance revenue growth.
2. Focusing on More Test Matches
BCCI and ICC should push for women’s Test cricket to get in the basic all-round skills and a
global view.
3. Investments by Government and Private Sector
The government should provide more funding, more scholarships, and more incentives for
female cricketers from the grassroots level. Private companies may work towards enhancing
their sponsorships and endorsements for female players.
4. Engagement of More Fans
Through the means of creating a larger amount of social media campaigns and marketing
strategies, higher fan interest can be pulled towards matches. Keeping the engagement
of women’s cricket live through fan meet-ups, merchandise launches, and digital engagement
activities should be organized.
5. Collaborations and International Exchange Programs
Expansion into India global leagues like The Hundred and WBBL would allow certain Indian
women cricketers to garner the experience of playing on an international platform.Exchange
programs with leading nations in cricket may further help raise the training standards.

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 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

1. Mapping the Struggle of Women's Cricket in India

Author: S. R. (2020)
Publication: International Journal of Science and Research
Summary:
S. R. examines the history and gradual development of women's cricket in India, beginning as
far back as the early 1970s when women's cricket was first organized. It involves the
establishment of the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) in 1973 and the
challenges the organization faced to promote the sport with little funding and media attention.
It identifies challenges women cricketers faced with social resistance, inadequate
infrastructure, and not receiving the same approach as male cricketers. The authors argue,
regardless of the obstacles of gendered stereotypes, that the sport has grown considerably,
especially after its merger with the Board of Control for Cricket in India in 2006. The paper
provides historical knowledge regarding the challenges, and achievements of women
cricketers in India, which will be a good starting point for potential research regarding the
impact of the sport and its future growth.

Reference:
S. R. (2020). Mapping the struggle of women's cricket in India. International Journal of
Science and Research. Retrieved from
https://www.ijsr.net/archive/v9i11/SR201030222659.pdf

2. Women's Cricket in India: Expanding the Inclusionary Possibilities of Cricket

Author: Raadhika Gupta (2022)
Publication: Cricket in South Asia: Imagining a Postcolonial Sport
Summary:
Using a gender lens, Gupta investigates the emergence of women's cricket in India and the
ramifications for a mainly male-oriented environment of sport. The research explores the
significance of landmark tournaments such as the Women's Cricket World Cup and the
Women’s T20 Challenge, bringing to light new perceptions of female cricketers and possible
challenges to patriarchal notions of sport participation. Furthermore, the paper highlights how
increased visibility through mainstream media, sponsorship deals, and endorsements has
motivated more young girls to participate in cricket; however, with such positive
development, the study finds that institutionalized issues like gendered bias operate in cricket
governance, fan engagement, and commercial sponsorships, perpetuating examples of
gendered power inequity. Finally, the research concludes with a call to action for greater
institutional support and expanding possibilities to create the socio-historical momentum in
women’s cricket in India.

Reference:
Gupta, R. (2022). Women's cricket in India: Expanding the inclusionary possibilities of
cricket. In R. Majumdar & J. Mills (Eds.), Cricket in South Asia: Imagining a Postcolonial
Sport. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/book/39018/chapter/338286329

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3. Understanding Women's Cricket Through Time: Who Becomes a Woman Cricketer?
Author: Anonymous (2024)
Publication: Economic and Political Weekly Engage
Summary:
This research adopts a sociological perspective, examining the influences that shape the
career trajectories of women cricketers in India. It investigates the ways in which social
background, the time element, and economics dictate which women get to engage in
professional cricket. The findings of the study note that the majority of women cricket
players come from the middle class or lower-income class and that their families go through
significant sacrifice to support their dreams. It also indicates that the transition from an
amateur to a professional in cricket is not facilitated by a lack of sponsorships, insufficient
prize money, and a lack of systems to train at the grass-roots level. The findings clearly
indicate a need for a more long-term investment in women cricket infrastructure at the local
level - especially in rural parts of India - in order to address the gap between talent and
opportunity.

Reference:
Anonymous (2024), Understanding Women's Cricket Through Time: Who Becomes a Woman
Cricketer?. Retrieved from
https://www.epw.in/engage/article/understanding-womens-cricket-through-time-who

4. Women's Cricket in India: The P(l)ay Gap

Author: Lisa McNamara (2023)
Publication: Global Studies Student Scholarship
Summary:
McNamara considers the professional and financial inequalities of male and female cricketers
in India. The research indicates that despite cricket's immense economic value, two things are
clear: the Indian Premier League for men (IPL), which generates billions of dollars in
revenue, has yet to see the Women's Premier League (WPL) establish itself financially; and
there is a notable disparity in pay scales, with the top male cricketers continuing to earn
significantly more than the top female cricketers in India. Moreover, the report looks at the
absence of sponsorships and media rights deals associated with women's cricket, arguing that
this, combined with financial inequality, restricts the overall growth of women's cricket and
cricket more widely. The study draws on systemic barriers (such as limited domestic
tournaments, lower investment in coaching, and less endorsement) to assert that women
cricketers are professionally marginalized in a systemic sense, continuing to prevent status
and equality in their professional development even within the new WPL. McNamara
concludes by stating that unless structures are introduced, the gaps (in all senses) will
continue to be a problem affecting the sustainability of the sport in the long run.

Reference:
Lisa McNamara (2023), Women's Cricket in India: The P(l)ay Gap
Retrieved from https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/bccis-unforgettable-decisions-
that-shaped-women-s-cricket-in-india-11678238262411.html

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5. As the Women's Game Grows in Popularity, Indian Cricket Remains Tied to
Masculinity
Author: A. Puthran (2024)
Publication: New Lines Magazine
Summary:
Puthran critically looks into how cricket is still often framed in gendered terms in India even
though the women’s game is gaining considerable visibility and popularity. It contends that
even with increased audience numbers and participation in women’s cricket, cricket remains
dominated by a man’s game and framed through a masculine lens. The study addresses
concerns such as women cricketers have inferior access to training facilities; gendered
nomenclature and language are used in cricket commentary; and socio-cultural expectations
of women cricketers. It draws attention to the contrasts in that women cricketers are regularly
required to earn their credibility, when generally male cricketers are accepted on face-value.
Ultimately, the research anticipates that for authentic change to happen will require not only
money but also a re-framing of sporting and gender narratives.

Reference:
Puthran, A. (2024). As the women's game grows in popularity, Indian cricket remains tied to
masculinity. New Lines Magazine. Retrieved from https://newlinesmag.com/argument/as-the-
womens-game-grows-in-popularity-indian-cricket-remains-tied-to-masculinity/

6. Research Directions for the Enhancement of Women's Cricket

Authors: Catherine E. Munro and Candice J. Christie (2024)
Publication: International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching
Summary:
Munro and Christie assess the current state of research into women’s cricket along with
highlighting important areas needing investigation. The paper discusses the areas of
biomechanics, injury prevention and performance analysis, noting that most of the research
was developed around male athletes. The authors argue that women’s cricket is a unique
sport, with its own physiological and psychological demands that need to be studied
separately from men’s cricket to enable greater optimized training. The research also calls for
more academic work regarding the ramifications on mental health for professional women
cricketers, who have to navigate societal pressures while playing a professional sport. The
study ends with a request for sports scientists, physiotherapists and policymakers to
collaborate and develop research programs specifically aimed at enhancing women cricketers'
performance and well-being.

Reference:
Catherine E. Munro and Candice J. Christie (2024), Research Directions for the
Enhancement of Women's Cricket. Retrieved from
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1747954120913762

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7. Economic Potential of Women's Cricket Waiting to be Exploited
Author: M.M.K. Sardana (2014)
Publication: ISID Discussion Note
Summary:
Sardana examines the unformed economic possibilities of women's cricket within India and
its potential to develop a more diverse sports economy. The research explains that while the
Women's Premier League (WPL) has established some new sources of income, a lot more can
be done to make women's cricket attractive to corporate sponsors, broadcast agreements, and
merchandise sales. The authors provide case studies from countries like Australia and
England that demonstrate the commercial possibilities of women's cricket through a
beneficial relationship. The study suggests a policy direction that would enhance the financial
incentives for female athletes, such as equal pay policies, funding programs provided by the
government, and more media partnerships. Ultimately the authors offer that a more strategic
investment in women's cricket would boost India's sports economy, but also, and perhaps
most importantly, create gender equality in sport.

Reference:
M.M.K. Sardana (2014), Economic Potential of Women's Cricket Waiting to be Exploited.
Retrieved from http://isid.org.in/pdf/DN1408.pdf

8. Temporal Analysis of Indian Female Participation and Achievements in International

Sports
Authors: Anonymous (2024)
Publication: International Journal of Physical Therapy
Summary:
This study assesses the increase in female participation in various international sports,
including cricket, and compares their success on the international stage. The paper provides a
thorough examination of the results of female Indian athletes at the Commonwealth Games,
Asian Games, and ICC events. The findings show that although Indian women are advancing
in sports such as badminton and wrestling, cricket is one of the last well-known sports where
the disparity continues to be pronounced. This study discusses the implications of changes in
policy, increased investment, and the worldwide movement for sports equity and their
influence on women's cricket in India. This study also considers mentorship, training
opportunities at the grassroots level, and international opportunities, as they relate to female
cricketers' competitive performance.

Reference:
Anonymous. (2024). Temporal analysis of Indian female participation and achievements in
international sports events. Retrieved from https://www.citedrive.com/en/discovery/temporal-
analysis-of-indian-female-participation-and-achievements-in-international-sports-events/

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 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Problem Statement

The development of women's cricket in India has quite a journey, from the start to the
introduction of the Women's Premier League (WPL), gaining par with media popularity.
Increased visibility of women cricketers with better financial remuneration and attentive
media coverage have led to a growing influence, yet serious challenges still cast a shadow on
the dream of realizing fully women's cricket in India.
Though WPL has opened new avenues, one serious inherent challenge is that cricket for
women is not as financially invested in as it would be for men. In simple terms, sponsorship,
prize money, and match revenues remain significantly less. For aspiring female cricketers in
India, the lack of access to proper infrastructure, coaching, and financial support contributes
significantly to grassroots development being another topical issue.
On the other hand, it remains quite challenging to engage audiences, as women's cricket
continues to be a second-order sport compared to men's cricket in terms of attendance,
viewership, and fandom.
While strides have been made towards developing women's cricket, some questions still
remain over whether it will be sustainable for the long haul and whether the now existing
programs really serve their purposes, and what roles the governing bodies, sponsors, and
media have to play in developing it. Through this study, an effort has been made to address
most of the issues and extrapolate suggestions for the survival of women's cricket in India.

3.2 Research Objectives

This study aims to highlight various dimensions of women’s cricket in India. The primary
aims are the following:

1. To discuss changes in women’s cricket from inception to the present day and the
milestones within that evolution which were instrumental in shaping it into what it is today.
2. To evaluate the influence of the WPL on the acceptability, economic viability, and
prospects of female cricketers.
3. To examine other circumstances related to media coverage and sponsorship in enhancing
the opportunity for publicity for women’s cricket.
4. To point out hurdles faced by women cricketers at grassroots and professional levels with
respect to issues such as financial onus, lack of training facilities, and public perception.
5. To draw a comparison of women’s cricket vis-à-vis men’s cricket and other sports played
mostly by women with respect to financial incentives, viewership, and opportunities for
careers.
6. To explore, within all these, the prospects of women’s cricket in India for the future and
recommend measures to reinforce its base and continuity for future development.

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 3.3 Research Design

A descriptive and analytical research design with qualitative and quantitative research
methods most appropriate for the deep understanding of the issue is what follows this study.
Descriptive research would analyze historical developments in women's cricket, the roles of
stakeholders, and major challenges. Quantitative research will include questionnaires and
data-gathering activities intended to find out about general public attitude, watching
preferences, and financial information.
Qualitative research, on the other hand, focuses on expert views, interviews, and media
analysis with the intent of gaining insights into the problems and future directions for
women's cricket.Such research will integrate a historical overview with current market
research trends to provide a balanced view of the topic.

SR. NO. ELEMENTS DESCRIPTION

1 Research Type Descriptive & Analytical

2 Research Approach Mixed Method (Qualitative &

Quantitative)
3 Research Strategy Surveys, Interview & Literature
review
4 Data Collection Method Primary & Secondary Data
Analysis
5 Sampling Method Convenience Sampling

6 Sample Size 50 Respondents

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 3.4 Data Collection Scheme

Primary Data Collection

The primary data collection methods were:

• Surveys: A structured questionnaire was distributed among 50 avid cricket viewers.

The survey included multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses to gauge audience
perceptions, awareness, and engagement levels with women's cricket.

Secondary Data Collection

In addition to primary data, secondary sources have also been evaluated through the analysis
of the historical and financial aspects of women's cricket. These were:
• Reports by cricket governing bodies: BCCI, ICC, WPL regarding revenue
generation and match attendance, policies;
• Historical records and statistics: Of milestones in women's cricket, match
performances, and global rankings;
• Academic journals and research papers: Mapping gender inequalities within and
alongside business gendering in sport sponsorship and audience behaviour;
• Viewership and sponsorship data: Reports by media houses and sports networks
reflecting audience engagement and financial support for women's cricket.

3.5 Research Hypotheses

The study tests the following hypotheses:

• H01: The introduction of the WPL has significantly increased the popularity of
women’s cricket in India.
• H11: The introduction of the WPL has not significantly increased the popularity of
women’s cricket in India.

3.6 Research Scope

The study would cover the following poles of women’s cricket:

• The evolvement of women’s cricket in India, including the Established national team.
Key tournaments; Policy changes.
• Financial and structural sides of the WPL impacting sponsorships, salaries, brand
endorsements.
• Viewership engagement with numbers, ticket sales, and women cricketers on social
media.
• Versus men’s cricket and other sports; pay, media coverage, and longevity.
• Potentialities left and recommendations for policy changes in Women’s cricket in
India focusing further on the sustainable future.

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 3.7 Research Significance

This research deals with a broad spectrum of aspects related to women's cricket.

• From a historical standpoint, it is centered around the evolution of women' cricket in

India. It deals with the formation of the national team, major tournaments, and policy
changes.
• Financial and structural aspects of WPL, which include analyzing how it influences
sponsorship deals, salaries, and brand endorsement.
• Audience perception and engagement is an important component of this research. It
examines trends in viewership, ticket sales, and social media presence of women cricketers.

• A comparative analysis of men's cricket and other sports with women cricket would
reveal stark differences in pay, media attention, and the duration of careers.
• A potential research agenda and a set of policy recommendations focusing on the
long-term sustainability of women's cricket in India.

3.8 Research Limitations

Notwithstanding the broad scope of the discussion, these few limitations cannot be dismissed:

1. Sample size: The survey was conducted among 50 respondents, which fails to represent
the diverse audience of cricket viewers in India adequately.
2. Availability of data: Due to very limited public disclosure of specific financials on
sponsorships and contracts with players, revenues for women's cricket may prove difficult to
draw deep financial comparisons.
3. Response bias: personal interests, media attention, intra-regional biases toward men's and
women's cricket can influence the audience perspectives.
4. Short-term vision: the study is mostly limited to the current trends like the launch of the
WPL, while long-term analysis of women's cricket would have drawn deeper insights.
5. The Domination of Comparison: while the study is comparing men's cricket against
women's cricket and drastically comparing it with other women's sports, the varying market
strategy and commercial dynamics just make any direct comparison odd or impractical.

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 4. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

4.1 Pie chart analysis

1. To understand the perception of women’s cricket, the following questions were presented
to the respondents. The responses to these questions are further studied in an in-depth manner
to arrive at a logical conclusion.

According to our data, we can clearly deduce that almost half of the people watch only the
World Cup games and occasionally a few other matches. A quarter of people have stated that
they do try to watch every single game while one-tenth of them say that they watch every
single game. But the big talking point is the fact that approx. 20% of cricket fans in the
country do not watch women’s games. This 20% audience is the people who will be the
primary target of women’s cricket broadcasting channels. It will be easier to first get those
eyes interested in the women’s game, especially the WPL to begin with and then to spend
efforts in making a new customer base altogether.

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2.

Again as we can figure out that the awareness of women’s players is not completely
established and the majority of the viewers know only about some of the players. 30% of
respondents have stated that they are only a handful of players overall while only 10% state
that they know most of the players from around the world. This pie chart very acutely
provides clarity over reality.

Apart from a few notable players, the journey to becoming a household name for these
players is a long one.

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3.

Let’s look at a more promising data now and understand the positive changes that have taken
place. Exactly half of our respondents believe that the women’s game has changed for the
better and they know much more about it than they did a decade ago. 34% of them have
accepted that even though they have started to see it, there’s still a way to go to become
completely proficient. 10% of the respondents have acknowledged that the game is
developing but it hasn’t yet grasped their individual attention. However, 2 voters still believe
that even though there might be potential but at this point in time, women’s cricket cannot
survive without appropriate financial support and backing.

It’s important to note the views of the 4% people as well because even though the situation
might not be that grim but it is tacit to consider all the scenarios and strike the right balance.

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4.

What do you think when you hear Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana?
• Option A - They are the superstars of Indian cricket and every sports-watching audience
knows them in India
• Option B - They are a popular figure and can be the face of a popular brand like Nike or
Adidas
• Option C - They are well-known players but not every sports watcher know about them
yet
• Option D - They are known only by regular cricket watchers and their status needs to
develop more

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are the two biggest names in women’s cricket in
India. So whatever perceptions people have about them two will display the highest current
ceiling of these cricket players. And as we can clearly see, half of the respondents believe that
those two are the superstars of Indian cricket and every sports watcher in the country knows
about them.

The next highest option with 20% of votes stated that even though they are well-known but
not every sports-viewing audience in the nation knows about them. 10% of the respondents
believe that they are somewhat popular but their status needs to develop more.
The rest of the 20% votes were spread out amongst the other options and not much can be
derived from that. But the thing which can be clearly derived is the fact that these players can
become household names in the near future but at this point in time, they are not quite there
yet.

These responses do present a very bright picture of the possibilities of the popularity of these
cricketers and hopefully, more than just two names will be a part of the conversation soon.

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5.

As we can clearly derive from the responses, most of the people believe that the WPL will go
on to have a rosy future and will witness a similar bloom to the IPL. A quarter of them has
somewhat of a cautious promise for the WPL as they think that even though it will witness
great success but won’t be challenging the IPL anytime soon. A tiny proportion of them are a
bit reserved about the growth prospects and believe that WPL will have its own audience but
for the majority, it won’t be a priority.

The most logical deduction from these responses seems to be that the success of the WPL is a
sureshot certainty, however, the degree of it might be a bit difficult to predict at this moment.

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6.

It’s almost impossible to get everything right in the first go and every process undergoes a
certain evolution to arrive at the most optimum stage. The same can be said about the WPL as
a few shortcomings came to the fore during the tournament and most people would like to see
these changes implemented.

The most requested change according to our research and based on the social media noise
seems to be to have at least 6 teams in the tournament and increase the number of overseas
players to 5 if necessary. The other two changes that are demanded from the viewers are the
consistent increase in purse sizes and shifting to a home-away format where the matches are
played in the home cities of the franchises.

Clearly, a majority of the responders want all these changes to be implemented in the
tournament as soon as possible.

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7.

As we can very clearly see, exactly half of the voters chose the ODI World Cup semi-finals as
their preferred choice.While the other 50% were equally divided on the prospect of seeing an
IPL classic between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings and the Women’s World
Cup final between India and Australia.

If we change option A either to the ODI World Cup final between India and some other team
or a World Cup match between India and Pakistan, this will become a no-contest as all the
votes will go in for that. If we even change option B from being a normal match to an IPL final,
the votes for option C will be even lesser.

The purpose of keeping these options was to try and gather the most positive outcome for
women’s matches while also keeping the competition intact.

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8.

Question: What are your views on the depth of Indian women's cricket?
• Option A - There is a clear lack of quality in depth which was prevalent in the
WPL
• Option B - Yes, the depth in quality is not enough right now but the WPL will address it in
the next 5 years
• Option C - More girls are required to take up the sport and sufficient infrastructure is
required at the grassroots level
• Option D - The lack of depth will remain for some time and the tournament won't expand
to more than 6 teams

80% of the responses were based around option B and C. 30% of them believed that the
problem lies at the grassroots level and the solution lies there itself. More investment is required
towards infrastructural development and talent identification and when the base is cemented,
the long-term future will be ideal as well.

On the other hand, 34% of people believe that the WPL and the events surrounding it will
naturally address this problem and the situation will be a lot better in 5-10 years’ time. 16% of
them chose that both of them are valid points and an optimum solution lies in the combination
of these two.

16% of the respondents pretty directly believe that the lack of depth is there for all to see and
it is an obstacle at present. A few people also believed that apart from the combination of points
B and C, building enough depth in the league will take some time and it won’t be easy to
expand the league into 8 teams, at least in the foreseeable future.

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9.

As we can very clearly deduce from the pie chart, most of the people have painted a pretty picture in
their mind regarding the future of women’s game. Around 36% people believe that although we are
on the right track but if a momentous occasion like World Cup triumph dosen’t happen in the near
future, then all the momentum might get soaked up.

Another 4% of them believe that the viewership for a women’s world cup semi-final might trump that
of a men’s bilateral game. 2% of people think that the WPL will become the second most watched
cricket league in the world after IPL and the top stars will easily earn in excess of Rs. 10+ crores. But
the most interesting response was that 40% believe that all the above possibilities will come true and
that WPL will dominate the markets.

4% of respondents think it is wise to be cautious rather than optimistic and think these projections are
a bit too far-fetched.

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10.

Question: Appreciating the uniqueness of the women's game, what change would you like to
see?
• Option A - Boundaries being pushed back to at least 55-60 metres
• Option B - The 30-yard cirele should convert into a 25-yard circle
• Option C - The length of the pitch should be 18 or 20 yards
• Option D - No change is required and the game is fine just as it is

The logic behind asking this question was two-fold - first was how do people perceive the
women’s game and the second was do they genuinely care enough to want to see the game
become better.

The 66% votes clearly indicate that either people think that the game is absolutely fine and
doesn’t need any unnecessary tinkering or they haven’t given much thought to it. We believe
that the answer lies between the two and people in reality don’t think much about improving
women’s cricket, they are just fine watching it the way it is when they want. Secondly, there
isn’t too much of a requirement to change the game just now and with time, there will be a
better understanding of the improvements that need to take place.

In the WPL, we saw in some cases, the boundary size was as low as 42 meters. We do
understand the physical uniqueness of women’s cricket, however, having a boundary that is
not even 50 meters just doesn’t make much sense. The game gets heavily skewed towards the
batters and hence, 26% of the respondents second this thought. They think that the boundary
should be extended to at least 55 or 60 meters.

Finally, 4% of the respondents each think that the 30-yard circle should be reduced to a 25-
yard circle and the 22-yard pitch should be reduced to an 18-yard pitch. We can’t derive
much from the views of a minute number and also the recent trends don’t indicate the
possibility of these changes happening soon.

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 4.2 Comparison with Male Cricketers

A Basic Brief

As more and more eyes catch women’s cricket in action, it is only inevitable that
comparisons with male cricketers will arise. Questions or rather accusations like Women’s
cricket is not fast enough, it’s not entertaining, it is low scoring, they don’t hit sixes, they
only bowl spin, etc have always been thrown at them. What all of us need to understand is
that not only both genders are biologically and physically different but also we all should
appreciate the uniqueness of women’s sports.

Regarding male cricketers, the biggest acknowledgment needs to be is to understand that

male cricketers in India are one of the most sacrosanct species and any comparisons with
them are an invitation to a meaningless endeavor. Players like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni,
and Virat Kohli are not only unparalleled personalities but also it is futile to compare anyone
with them. We need to understand that even though the sport is the same but every other
variable is different.

From a commercial perspective, men’s cricket has been at the helm for decades and has
processed multiple evolutionary phases to be at the stage it is. However, the watershed
moment in men’s cricket also came with the beginning of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Before that, BCCI was at par with the most powerful cricket boards in the world. The IPL not
only revolutionized cricket all over the world but also made BCCI the single most powerful
cricket board in the world.

The simple truth is that women’s cricket cannot be put on the same scale as men’s cricket
either on the fundamental level or commercial level. Rather than wasting our time trying to
prove how women’s cricket should be put on an equal pedestal as their counterparts, efforts
should be made to make the sport better at a macro level.

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 4.3 Financial Pay Aspect

In October 2023, BCCI brought pay parity among the men and women players when their
fees were hiked up to Rs. 15 lakhs per test match, Rs. 6 lakhs per ODI match, and Rs. 3 lakhs
per T-20I match. Earlier their payment used to be Rs. 2.5 lakhs per test match and Rs. 1 lakh
per ODI and T-20I match. This has to be lauded as a welcome step as both teams perform the
same work theoretically while playing a game.

However, there is a much deeper issue at the core. First of all, the women’s team plays fewer
matches than their counterparts. The number of test matches they have played in the last
decade can be counted on a single hand. Secondly, the viewership and popularity of women’s
matches are substantially less, and even though their fees per match are equal, the men’s
players' net worth is significantly greater. We will look into the marketing aspect of female
sports in much more detail in another topic mentioned below.

In July 2022, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced that its male and female cricketers
would get equal pay at both domestic and international levels. The decision came after NZC
and the players’ association signed a five-year agreement.

As of now, only India and New Zealand are providing equal per-match pay to their players.
In October 2022, Cricket Australia made some efforts to increase the salary of nationally
contracted players by 22% and the WBBL contracted players by 14%. The enactment of the
same by the BCCI will strongly push other nations to adopt the same policy.

The marketing dimension will always come into play and it is more of a natural consequence
of what the society wants or rather accepts but the fundamental steps in playing a match are
the same across genders. In a T-20I game, both of them have to bowl for 120 balls and then
bat for the same. Hence, they perform the same work and therefore it should be a no-brainer
that people performing the same work in principle should be paid equally, irrespective of any
other factors.

However, there is a massive gap in the annual contract for men’s players and women’s
players. The annual contract list of the BCCI contracted players is mentioned in the table
below.

GRADE MEN WOMEN

A+ Rs. 7 Cr N/A
A Rs. 5 Cr Rs. 50 Lacs
B Rs. 3 Cr Rs. 30 Lacs
C Rs. 1 Cr Rs. 10 Lacs

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The obvious reason behind such a massive disparity is the amount of revenue these players
generate for the BCCI. In an interview in 2020, the star Indian batter Smriti Mandhana said
that it is “unfair” to ask for equal pay.

To quote her, “We need to understand that the revenue we get is through men’s cricket. The
day women’s cricket starts earning revenue, I will be the first person to say that we need the
same thing. But right now, we can’t say that”.

However, one underlying issue with the pay issue is the fact that India is scheduled to play
141 bilateral matches in the next 5 years Future Tour Program (FTP). While the Indian
women’s team will play only 65 international bilateral matches in the next 4-year cycle,
including just two tests.

While the contrast in the annual pay gap is understandable, the stark difference in the number
of matches is a bit concerning. BCCI should ensure that the Indian team plays multiple test
matches each year and their white-ball cricket frequency should be about three-fourths or
two-thirds of the men’s team.

4.4 Cultural Aspect

If we go back 10-12 years in time, we will struggle to remember more than a few players who
represented the Indian national team. Even in the current Indian side, be it the well-experienced
Harmanpreet Kaur or the young gun Jemimah Rodrigues, they all spent their childhood playing
cricket with boys because there weren’t any girls who played the sport. There wasn’t any girl's
cricket academy so they had to practice with the boys and only when they reached a certain
age group level, things began to seem normal for them.

Naturally, the parents were reluctant to allow their girls to go out and play with boys. In most
Indian households, the thinking was to get their daughters a certain level of education and then
marry them off. In moderately advanced households, girls were allowed to have employment
for themselves. Only in the very select few households, girls were allowed to play cricket,
travel around the country to play matches, and have a future in the sport.

At present, the aim has to be to make sure that there are sufficient opportunities available to
the upcoming players who want to take up the sport. There needs to be a well-put infrastructure
in place so that there are enough academies, grounds, and coaches for girls in every part of the
country. The cultural mindset of the parents will change only when they see with their own
eyes the enormous possibilities that lie ahead for their daughters.

One of the biggest intangible benefits of the WPL will be the realisation among parents that
cricket can be a viable cricket option for their daughters which will not only make them
financially independent but also bring respect and reputation.

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Let’s take the case of three regulars of the Indian cricket team in brief.

Radha Yadav
Hailing from the suburbs of Kandivali in Mumbai, Radha Yadav is truly a rags-to-riches story.
Her father was a vegetable vendor and had his stall outside the society they lived in. Despite
so much of financial obstacles, her father supported her as much as possible. Her coach took
her under his wing at the age of 12 and bore her expenses from there on. She made her India
debut at the age of 17 and brought financial security to her family.

Deepti Sharma

Deepti Sharma is one of India’s finest all-rounders and has remained connected to her roots
despite being a popular cricket player. Her father used to work in the railways and just about
managed to earn sufficient income for the family. She has been a constant member of the Indian
team for the past 5 years and is an inspiration to girls belonging to lower-middle-class families.

Pooja Vastrakar

The Madhya Pradesh all-rounder has had quite a journey to the top though. Pooja's mother
passed away when she was 10 years old and her father is a retired BSNL employee. Being the
youngest of seven siblings, Pooja started playing cricket with the boys in her neighborhood.
She went on to represent her state before making her debut for the Women in Blue in 2018 and
is now one of the key all-rounders for the side.

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 4.5 Wait for the Breakthrough Moment

The breakthrough moment for cricket in general in India came when India won the 1983
World Cup. Young kids in India began dreaming about playing for India and lifting that
trophy for themselves. Legendary Indian cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid
were inspired by that victory and their journey began from that very moment.

The hosting rights for the 1987 World Cup were won by the Indian subcontinent after India’s
triumph and that paved the way for India to become a cricketing powerhouse. Earlier, cricket
was considered an activity for mostly the privileged and high-class people but the decade of
the 80s changed all that. Everyone in the country started loving the game and it was being
played on the streets, warehouses, lawns, compounds, grounds and terraces. The first choice
toy for any boy was a cricket bat.

The next revolution in Indian cricket came when we won the inaugural edition of the T-20
World Cup. That victory quickly opened the gates for the commencement of the Indian
Premier League. The IPL became an instant hit and made BCCI the richest and most
powerful cricket board in the world. People began to realize that playing in the IPL can also
be a massive motivator in life.

The 2011 cricket world cup inspired the next generation of cricketers to pick up a bat and
smash it out of the park. The position we see the Indian men’s cricket right now has taken
decades to achieve. And it will be unfair and unjustified for us to expect women’s cricket to
get to the same position without undergoing its due course.

The WPL will begin a revolution in women’s cricket but there is no substitute for young girls
being inspired by watching their country lift the World Cup. When that long-awaited moment
comes, the entire landscape of the sport will change in the nation. The people will begin to
see these cricketers as not just any other sportsperson but rather as the women who conquered
the world.

If something like that happens in the next 3-5 years, then the combination of WPL and World
Cup glory will light the ignition toward a glorious future. Not only will the financial worries
be put to bed but also all the cricketers will have their own identities. However, the path has
been laid and the process is there, the simple need is to keep continuing on that mark, after all
#YeToBasShuruaatHai.

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 4.6 The Future Possibilities of Women’s

Commercial Point of View

For the first time in the history of women’s sport in India, the tickets for the final match were
sold out within a few hours. Unlike the group games, the ticket pricing was kept at Rs. 250
for women and higher for men, and yet such demand is a testament to the fact that the right
progress is being made.

All the franchises were able to easily fill out the available slots for brand logos in their
jerseys which clearly demonstrates the advertiser’s confidence in the product. As many as 35
sponsors were roped in by Viacom18 for the tournament, including marquee brands like
TATA, CEAT, Dream11, Puma and Amul.

However, the TV viewership of the event was less than 20% of what IPL achieves and this is
a definite area for improvement. Though, the reason behind this number can be pointed out as
several key factors.

First of all, IPL is a 15-year-old product that has gone through several grinds and then came
out as this shiny product. Secondly, the WPL was commenced in a pretty hurried way and all
the arrangements for the league needed to be done within a fortnight. To make an event
successful and imply proper advertisement plans on it, the organisers require atleast 2 months
time. Thirdly, Sports18 isn’t a well-known channel yet and when the same product was
available for free on Jio Cinema, most of the viewers preferred to watch it digitally rather
than paying a subscription fee.

In terms of digital viewership, the WPL became the most digitally viewed women’s sports
event globally. More than 10 million new users tuned in to watch the game and the average
watch time for each user was more than 50 minutes.

Another step that must be taken next year is the introduction of home and away matches so
that not only the commercial revenues can begin to roll in for the franchises but they can also
engage in the brand building and team loyalty processes.

In a statement, Viacom18 sports CEO, Anil Jayraj, said: “Our vision is to nurture the Tata
WPL into the biggest women’s sporting league in the world, and this is a big leap in that
direction. To see it already on its way to becoming the largest viewed sports event in the
world in the first season is a remarkable feat and testament to the potential.”

Taking a closer look at the sponsorship side of things in the WPL, we can see big brands like
Pepsi and Coca-Cola thought better of getting involved in the tournament. Chennai Super
Kings, one of the biggest clubs in the world decided to not have a team and cited it as a
strategic decision. It points toward the reflection of the distance between money and a game
that’s still arriving, commercially

The advertisers associated decided not to launch any new product during the tournament,
further depicting the sign of low confidence in a sporting event that is just starting to take off.
Even though the advertising rates for a 10-second ad were just around Rs1-1.25 lakh (for IPL,
it is around Rs.12.5-15 lakh), many brands thought to analyse the response to the first season

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before jumping the gun.

However, many brands, especially women-centric ones like Lotus, Vega and Mia by Tanishq
did get associated and started an ad campaign that was more based on an elongated women’s
day. Tata continuously described itself as a “proud” official sponsor symbolizing women who
are going to be in the driving seat and rule the world. The #NotFai campaign by Himalaya
face wash and #SheGotGame campaign by Tanishq also did their job as people felt intrigued
by what it means.

Emotional Point of View

As Nat Sciver-Brunt paddled the ball toward the boundary, there was absolute ecstasy in the
Mumbai Indians’ camp as the players ran onto the pitch and hugged the hell out of each other.
We saw Harmanpreet Kaur on the sidelines, arms held aloft, face glowing with a smile and a
hint of a tear in her eyes. She had not felt the feeling of lifting the trophy as a leader ever and
this must have been special for her.

Amidst all the chaos came the footage of the head coach of Mumbai Indians, one of the
greatest to grace the game, Charlotte Edwards. She had tears in her eyes and was hugging
anyone she could find in the blue camp.

Another legend of the game, Jhulan Goswami has had the same fate of not knowing the
feeling of touching silverware. It was her night as well and her beaming smile was a proof
that this really meant a lot.

How can we not talk about the great Australian leader Meg Lanning who wouldn’t know the
feeling of losing a final. She racks up World Cup trophies like a hobby for her national team
and yet she was generous and filled with humility in that strange moment.

These players are icons of this game and have seen a lot in their frenzied careers. And yet,
they all could feel the magnitude of this momentous occasion. They understand what this
could mean for the women’s game and they will feel privileged to have placed the first step
toward that blissful tomorrow.

As we have seen with the men’s game, these players do not consider each other as enemies
anymore because of IPL and other leagues around the world. Yes, cricket is not a trivial
matter but it is not life and death either. This has resulted in beautiful friendships being
formed between players from the most different cultures and regions and it has helped in
making the game a more welcome event. We can already see similar bonds taking place in the
WPL as well and this ensures a future filled with compassion with the competition.

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 5. Conclusion

To conclude The Black Book and our study on The Rise of Women’s Cricket in India and its
impact on Women’s Sport, it is vital that we present a coherent and comprehensive perspective.
While throughout this analysis we have articulated our thoughts, to summarize those thoughts
comprehensively will not only clarify but more importantly will do justice to the significance
of this transformative journey.

Women’s cricket in India has been going through a remarkable transformation over the last
twenty years. The sport has changed from a niche, relatively unknown, and inconsequential
sport, to one that is widely discussed, and commercially viable. The launch of the Women’s
Premier League (WPL) in 2023 came with the tagline #YeToBasShuruaatHai (This is just the
beginning); this was not simply a marketing phrase, it captures the revolutionary change that
is occurring in the country and in the world. An increase in funding for women’s cricket from
supporters and lucrative deals by institutions indicates an intentional shift in changing
perceptions of the sport, as is the increase in viewers. Yet, there are still a great deal of struggles
and opportunities ahead.

5.1 Breaking the Gender Barrier in Cricket

For a long time, cricket in India was a men's game, and women's cricket hardly received any
recognition. The shift from cricket being a marginal sport to one competing for mainstream
attention has been anything but simple. The likes of Diana Edulji, Shantha Rangaswamy,
Mithali Raj, and Jhulan Goswami were pivotal inning a new base with extraordinary effort
which has constructed an incredible foundation for the participants today, who benefit from
better infrastructure, sponsorship, and opportunity.

However, one of the big misconceptions that continues to exist is to compare women's cricket
with men's cricket, or to equate WPL to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Comparisons are
inevitable, however, do not truly engage with the context of the history of development,
levels of attachment of the audience, and levels of physicality of the cricket played. Rather
than a direct comparison, women's cricket should be viewed a significantly respected sport in
its own, evolving and escalating to be a financially profitable sport, with grace and character.

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 5.2 The Financial Boom and Commercial Success

There has been a seismic shift in the financial landscape of women's cricket. When the Women's
Premier League was announced, it immediately accrued significant financial investment. We
saw franchise bids that exceeded expectations, broadcast rights that were sold for
unprecedented amounts, and salaries that were impressive for players. Perhaps the most
striking example of this is Smriti Mandhana becoming the highest-paid player in WPL history,
eclipsing any salaries paid to players in a league outside the IPL. This is an assured sign of the
growing marketability and commercial value of women's cricket. Investment in the sport is
many times more valuable to creating a sustainable future. Sponsorships, advertisements, and
increased broadcast revenue are expanding access and opportunities for women cricketers. The
challenge ahead is to maintain this momentum with consistently good performances, steady
streams of audience engagement, and structured pathways for talent development.
In addition to directly funding the sport, the marketing and brand development of women's
cricket will be a major component to maintaining women's cricket appeal as we move forward.
In addition to grassroots programming, establishing social media campaigns, and beginning a
global conversation with other countries will also be important for what happens as the game
grows in reach and influence.

5.3 Grassroots Development: The Need of the Hour

Even though we have seen a great development in the sport, grassroots development in
women’s cricket remains one of the greatest challenges. For Indian women’s cricket to be on
an upward trajectory, it is essential to develop and nurture the youth while also having a reliable
pipeline of players. While men’s cricket can rely on a good number of academies, state teams,
and competitions, women’s cricket is still in the process of establishing a reliable base.

The WPL has five teams, however, in order for the league to be entirely competitive and
sustainable it must have six teams within the next year and at least eight in the longer term.
Expansion should not come at the cost of quality, however. This also the role of the state
associations in establishing a programme that creates depth in women's cricket. Women’s
cricket needs to be developing youth, provide the youth with professional quality coaching,
and having more domestic competitions is the key to improving the base of women’s cricket.
The lack of adequate training facilities for young female cricketers remains a major concern.
Investment in infrastructure, including dedicated training grounds and mentorship programs,
will help bridge this gap. Schools and colleges should be encouraged to develop women's
cricket teams, and government support should be sought to ensure that young girls have the
opportunity to pursue a career in the sport.

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 5.4 The Role of Domestic Cricket and Infrastructure

A strong domestic structure is vital for the success of any cricketing nation. India is no different,
as it has made great advancements in having a domestic structure. However, there is still plenty
of work to be done. The domestic format needs to be more creatively branded, marketed,
promoted and incentivized to ensure more young cricketers gravitate toward the game. A red-
ball tournament for women's cricket would be a good start as it will help ensure players can
succeed in all formats of the game.

Moreover, infrastructure continues to be a challenge. The women's team plays on worse pitches
and doesn’t have access to quality training facilities. While the present situation is much better
than in the past, there should still be an ongoing focus on enhancing stadium facilities, training
camps and fitness facilities, so that women's cricket is equal to men's cricket.
More partnerships between state cricket associations and private investors could improve this.
More academies focused specifically on women's cricket should be established, and academies
should ensure female players are receiving equal preparation.

5.5 The Importance of International Exposure

One of the significant points of concern is the number of ODI and Test matches played by the
Indian Women’s team, which is infusionally lower than that of their men’s counterparts. There
is an increasing focus on T20 cricket, but the longer formats are still lagging behind. A robust
and consistent international calendar, with bilateral series and multi-format series, will be vital
for raising the skill levels of Indian players, as well as improving their competitiveness.

Moreover, for Cricket to be included in the Olympic Games will be a game changer for
Women’s cricket, as it opens up opportunities for Indian players to play on the global stage,
provides a global platform for visibility, as well as additional pathways for future financial and
infrastructure development.

5.6 Sustaining Growth and Ensuring a Bright Future

While the present growth of women's cricket in India is encouraging, it is crucial that it
continues to grow with work, investment, and foresight. The BCCI has made great steps
forward in promoting women's cricket, and now the focus should be on the implementation of
the above.... Ensuring equitable compensation, improved facilities, increased playing
opportunities, as well as a formally structured development 'pathway' will be imperative to
sustaining the growth of the women's game.

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In addition, a long-term `road-map' should be established, which will consider:
• The expansion of WPL through an effective domestic player pipeline.
• Raising the standard of domestic tournaments.
• Increased opportunities to participate in international fixtures across all formats.
• Continuing grassroots development programs through quality coaching programs.
• Improving marketing and commercial appeal of women's cricket.
• Breaking cultural barriers through continuous advocacy and continuous success stories.

5.7 WPL’s Financial Landscape: A Long-Term

Investment in Women’s Cricket

Dhiraj Malhotra, CEO of Delhi Capitals, expresses a basic truth about the Women’s Premier
League (WPL): “It’s not quite a business decision, as much as a considered decision. We knew
there would be losses.” His comment emphasizes the reality of launching and developing a
new sports league, especially one in women’s sports, is more a future investment than a quick
financial payoff. According to Malhotra, it may be 5-10 years before women’s cricket
franchises are profitable.

All of this is not surprising when viewed through the historical lens of T20 leagues. The Indian
Premier League (IPL), while being immensely successful today, took years to be profitable. In
the early years of the IPL, franchises had financial losses wherein a media report stated that the
original eight IPL teams would lose ₹315 crore combined in FY10. The Kolkata Knight Riders
(KKR) was the original franchise to turn a profit, while it took nearly a decade for all teams to
be in the positive, until 2018. The overall financial picture only turned around due to larger
media rights deals, bigger brand partnerships and growth in a passionate fan base.

In 2009, Forbes estimated that an average IPL franchise was valued at $67 million. By 2022,
the value had skyrocketed to $1.04 billion per franchise, representing a compound annual
growth rate of 24 percent. The value of the league itself expanded dramatically as well, when
the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group bought the Lucknow Super Giants for a staggering ₹7,090 crore,
almost twenty times more than the price at which the original franchises had been purchased
in 2008 for ₹300-400 crore each.

5.8 Projected Financial Growth of WPL: A Parallel to

IPL’s Success

Given the trajectory of the IPL trajectory, it is evident that the WPL will go through a similar
financial evolution. It is expected by pundits that the WPL franchise valuations will explode in
value in the next ten years in part due to the many factors such as a rising media rights, new
sponsorship deals, packed stadiums, and heightened corporate's interest in women's sports.

Currently, the total valuation of all five WPL teams is $572.2 million—approximately $114.4

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million for each team. That already represents a 26% increase compared to the estimated
valuation of an average men's IPL team, which was $90 million in 2008. The upward slope
would indicate that one day in the future, WPL teams may replicate or exceed the single-digit
increase in IPL team valuations.

One factor that plays a major role in this financial uptick is how well the teams perform on-
field. In IPL, well-performing teams are typically valued higher. As an example, e Brand
Finance report from December 2022 noted that Mumbai Indians (most successful team in IPL
with five championships) has the most brand value at $83 million, followed closely by KKR
($76.8 million) and CSK ($73.6 million). Therefore, it is likely that WPL teams that follow the
same trend (i.e. dominate the tournament and rally fans behind them) will carry the greatest
brand valuations.

5.9 The Global Shift in Women’s Sports Investments

The WPL’s ascendance comes at a time when women’s sports all over the world are having
unprecedented financial and structural expansion. A number of sporting leagues and governing
bodies are moving women’s sports forward, resulting in investment, engagement with fans, and
coverage through media.
• WNBA with a Historic Investment: In February 2022, the WNBA received the largest-
ever capital investment for a women's sports property, a staggering $75 million.
• LPGA’s Rising Prize Money: In the last three years, the LPGA has seen a staggering
increase in prize money of 31%, largely through corporate sponsorship.
• FIFA with its Unbundled Women’s World Cup Rights: For the first time ever, FIFA
unbundled the media and sponsorship rights for the Women’s World Cup, separating it from
the men’s package in order to maximize revenue and marketability for the women's tournament.

All these trends signal a bigger shift toward inclusivity and gender equity in sport, where
women’s leagues are no longer viewed as simply an extension of men's leagues, but rather as
independent enterprises with their own commercial viability.

5.10 WPL’s Role in Transforming Women’s Cricket

Aside from the financial valuation and media deal, the WPL is having a transformative effect
on women's cricket by making it an actual reality for young girls. Until now, the lack of
financial security prevented many able female athletes from pursuing a career in cricket. The
advent of the WPL is rapidly changing all of that.
According to a recent report by the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations
(FICA), there is notable growth in professional employment for women cricketers.
• The number of central contracts in women's cricket has grown to 207 each year,
growing 75% since the last report.
• There are anticipated to be 492 major domestic T20 league contracts in 2023,
contributing to more financial security and patronage in women cricketers' playing

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opportunities.
The WPL is also a terrific avenue to encourage young girls to enter cricket. Historically, cricket
in India has been a professional movement of men with limited participation from women.
However, to have a premier league and hear of women cricketers getting paid competitively
and being recognized globally, and having serious sponsorship deals is changing the
perception.

5.11 Key Challenges and the Road Ahead

Even with a bright future ahead, there are many obstacles the WPL will have to face to
complement long-term profitability and sustainability.

1) Expanding the League Format: The WPL currently has a league format with only five
teams. For this league to grow and draw in more talent, a temporary expansion to six teams at
least in the short-term, eight teams in the long-term, needs to be made. This may be done
gradually to keep the quality of tournament high.
2) Improving the Grassroots Development: While the WPL has created a great
opportunity for elite cricketers to make money, the gaps are still large at the grassroots level.
These needs to be filled with additional academies, training facilities and scouting camps to
begin to create the next generation of players.
3) Increasing Attendance at Stadiums: Despite the high rating of viewership on television
and streaming platforms during the first WPL season, improving stadium attendance could still
be a strong area for growth. Marketing campaigns, community outreach programs, and fan
engagement initiatives based in the cities can help foster a dedication of spectators.

4) Corporate Sponsorship as a Long-Term Investment: For WPL to be a long-term

sustainability, it's necessary to secure continued corporate sponsorship. Corporations need to
identify women's cricket as a financial opportunity instead of a one-off CSR (Corporate Social
Responsibility) proposition.

5) Pay Gap: While WPL players still earn much more than other women’s league players, the
disparity continues to exist when comparing the salaries of men in IPL towards that of women
in WPL. There will continue to be discussions about equal pay, especially as growth of WPL
revenue grows.

5.12 Final Thoughts

Ten years ago, cricket for women in India was hardly on anyone's map, apart from the
occasional name, such as Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Today, we have a thriving,
competitive, and commercialized sport that is slowly claiming its rightful space.

However, there is still much to be accomplished. The upcoming years will be crucial in

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determining whether that growth is sustainable as we need to foster further investment,
strategic growth, and social acceptance so that Indian women’s cricket can become a world
beater—maybe one day we will see young girls playing cricket without hesitation, stadiums
filled to capacity for women’s matches, and India raising a Women’s World Cup.

The growth of women’s cricket in India is not only about the sport; it’s about empowerment,
equality, and dominance over societal stereotypes. That it’s a work in progress. And while we
keep moving forward, one thing we can all agree on is that—Ye to bas shuruaat hai!

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 6. ANNEXURE

1. Name

2. Age:
• Below 18
• 18-25
• 26-35
• 35-50
• Above 50

3. Gender:
• Male
• Female
• Other

4. Occupation:
• Student
• Athlete
• Sports Journalist
• Coach
• Other

5: How often do you follow cricket?

• Regularly
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

6. What is the frequency in which you watch the women's cricket national team play?
• I watch every match of team India
• I follow Team India very closely and try to watch as much as possible
• I watch only the World Cup and occasionally a few other matches
• 1 don't watch the women's cricket but will like to do so in future

7. How familiar you are with the women's cricket players?

• I know every player of team India, follow their performances in other leagues and
most of the other regulars from other nations
• I know some of the players from Team India and a few prominent ones from other
nations
• I know only a few prominent players overall

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8. Think about the changes that have happened in the last 10 years
• Women’s cricket has definitely grown and I am much more familiar with it now
• I have started to watch some of it but still now completely familiar with all the players
• I know the women’s game has become more popular but my interest hasn’t developed
yet
• The popularity is directly proportional to the resources spent and it isn’t self sufficient
yet

9. What do you think when you hear Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana?
• Option A - They are the superstars of Indian cricket and every sports-watching audience
knows them in India
• Option B - They are a popular figure and can be the face of a popular brand like Nike or
Adidas
• Option C - They are well-known players but not every sports watcher know about them
yet
• Option D - They are known only by regular cricket watchers and their status needs to
develop more

• Only A
• Only B
• Only C
• Only D
• A and C
• C and D
• B, C and D

10. What are your thoughts on the WPL (Women’s Premier League)?
• It will bring a similar change to the IPL and the Women Cricketers will become
household names in the next 5-10 years
• It will bring some significant changes in the women’s game but wont catch up with
the men’s cricket in the near future
• It might make the game a bit more popular and financially feasible but talk of any
significant improvements is immature
• Its good for Women players but people will always watch WPL as a secondary choice
and not much will change, atleast for now

11. What are the changes you will like to see in the WPL in the next 2-3 years?
• Expand to 6-8 teams and allow 5 overseas per team
• Increase the purse size to 18-20 crores from 12 crores
• Bring the home and away fixtures rather than all the matches in Mumbai
• All of the above

12. If given a free ticket, what will you like to see?

• India vs England World Cup Semi-Final Men's
• India W vs Australia W World Cup Final
• MI vs CSK IPL Match

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13. What are your views on the depth of Indian women's cricket?
• Option A - There is a clear lack of quality in depth which was prevalent in the
WPL
• Option B - Yes, the depth in quality is not enough right now but the WPL will address it in
the next 5 years
• Option C - More girls are required to take up the sport and sufficient infrastructure is
required at the grassroots level
• Option D - The lack of depth will remain for some time and the tournament won't expand to
more than 6 teams

• B, C and D
• B and C
• Only A
• Only B
• Only C

14. Where do you see women's cricket in the next 10 years?

• It will become much more popular but a game changing moment like a world cup
victory needs to happen soon
• The viewership will improve and an important women’s match might trump the
viewership of a bilateral men’s match
• By 2030 the highest paid women’s player will earn Rs 10 Cr plus in the WPL and it
will become the second most watched Cricket League in the World
• All of the Above
• Even though the popularity will increase but such rosy projections might not take
place

15. Appreciating the uniqueness of the women's game, what change would you like to
see?
• Option A - Boundaries being pushed back to at least 55-60 metres
• Option B - The 30-yard cirele should convert into a 25-yard circle
• Option C - The length of the pitch should be 18 or 20 yards
• Option D - No change is required and the game is fine just as it is

• B and D
• Only A
• Only C
• Only D

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 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

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