The recent triumph of the Indian women’s cricket team in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 has ignited a remarkable surge of interest and participation in women’s cricket across the country. From small towns in Madhya Pradesh to bustling urban centers like Mumbai and Bengaluru, girls and young women are embracing the sport with newfound enthusiasm, spurred by the national team’s success and the expanding infrastructure supporting women’s cricket. This transformation is reshaping perceptions, breaking long-standing gender barriers, and nurturing a new generation of female cricketers determined to make their mark.
In the heart of Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region, the Sai Sports Academy in Chhatarpur stands as a testament to grassroots efforts fostering women’s cricket despite limited resources. Pinky Ahirwar, an 18-year-old trainee at the academy, embodies the dedication and sacrifices many young girls make to pursue their cricketing dreams. Traveling 35 kilometers from her village, Pinky chose to quit formal education after school to focus on cricket, optimizing her limited financial resources by repairing a bicycle to save daily commuting costs and investing those savings in a protein-rich diet essential for athletic training. Her diet, simple yet nutritious, typically includes chickpeas and bananas, staples that sustain many young athletes in rural northern India.
The Sai Sports Academy, founded in 2013 by Rajeev Bilthare, began training girls in 2016 and has since nurtured talents like Kranti Goud, a 22-year-old tribal girl from a nearby rural town who was part of the victorious World Cup squad. Starting with just five girls, the academy now trains about 60 young players, including 20 girls. However, the academy faces significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure such as the absence of proper pitch covers, washrooms, and dressing rooms. Bilthare highlights the lack of government support, with the academy operating largely on minimal fees and personal investment, offering free training to many promising players. Despite these hurdles, the academy’s commitment has enabled several players to reach state and national levels, underscoring the immense talent waiting to be nurtured with better support.
This burgeoning interest is not confined to Madhya Pradesh. In Haryana, the Shri Ram Narain Cricket Club in Rohtak has experienced a surge in demand following the World Cup win. Coach Ashish Parmal recounts receiving over 30 calls from parents eager to enroll their daughters just after the final match. This club also counts Shafali Verma, India’s highest scorer in the final, among its alumni. Yet, the disparity between boys and girls in cricket academies remains stark. Parmal notes that while they train 31 girls across two centers, there are over 500 boys in the same age groups, reflecting the ongoing gender imbalance in access and opportunity.
Similarly, in Chennai, the Gen-Next Cricket Institute, led by former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin and his wife Prithi Ashwin, has witnessed increased inquiries from parents about coaching for girls. Coaches like Irfan Sait from the Karnataka Institute of Cricket in Bengaluru, who has decades of experience training women cricketers, acknowledge a “sea change” in women’s cricket. However, many still evaluate female players against male standards, illustrating persistent biases. At one Bengaluru academy, a coach admits to often comparing a 19-year-old woman’s skills to those of a 16-year-old boy, underscoring the challenges female cricketers face in gaining equal recognition and assessment.
At the Sai Sports Academy, training sessions reveal both the enthusiasm and obstacles faced by young women cricketers. Players like Bharti Verma, a 17-year-old medium pacer, train diligently despite wearing worn-out shoes bought two years ago by her farmer father, who supports a family of six. The rising cost of equipment, such as cricket shoes now priced at around ₹2,000, poses financial challenges for many families. The academy lacks basic amenities, and players often have to use nearby houses for toilet facilities, highlighting infrastructural deficits that contrast sharply with the players’ passion and potential.
Despite limited facilities and societal challenges, girls like Vaishnavi Pal from Shivpuri district continue to pursue cricket with determination. After initial resistance from neighbors when she played informally with her brother and cousins, Pal found encouragement through a local coach and moved to stay with relatives for better access to training. Her story is one of many where familial support, especially after hardships such as her