Women’s Cricket Continues to Grow Across India

India’s sporting landscape is slowly changing, and women’s cricket sits at the centre of that shift.

A BBC survey across 14 Indian states found that one in ten women now play cricket, highlighting a clear rise in participation.

The findings suggest interest in women’s sport is growing both on the pitch and among audiences. Younger women, in particular, are driving this momentum as sporting success raises the profile of female athletes.

Yet the study also reveals a contradiction at the heart of this progress.

While more women are playing and watching sport than before, long-standing attitudes about women in athletics continue to shape perceptions and opportunities.

The Rise of Cricket Participation

The survey found that one in ten Indian women now play cricket. This represents a significant increase compared with the previous survey in 2020.

Six years ago, there were five times more men playing cricket than women. In 2026, that gap has narrowed to three times more men than women.

In the survey, playing refers to anyone who says they currently play the sport. Forty per cent of women who play cricket do so at least once a week.

The findings suggest younger women are driving much of the change. Among women aged 15 to 24, interest in sport is rising sharply.

One in four respondents in this age group said they had considered sport as a career option, a notable rise from 16% in 2020.

The surge in interest follows a period of major sporting achievements for Indian women. Success at the international level has helped raise visibility and inspire younger audiences.

Manu Bhaker made history by winning two medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Indian women also won 10 medals at the Paralympics that year.

In 2025, the Indian women’s national cricket team lifted the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup on home soil, generating widespread excitement and attention.

The survey suggests such achievements are encouraging more women to take sport seriously.

Interest is not limited to cricket.

Badminton participation among women has also increased. Six per cent of women surveyed now play badminton. The figure stood at four per cent in 2020.

How Audiences Engage with Women’s Sport

The survey also examined how audiences engage with women’s sport.

Around 51% of respondents said they had followed coverage of women’s sport in the past six months. This figure is not far behind the 63% who said they followed men’s sport.

Live viewership tells a similar story. Forty-three per cent of respondents said they watched women’s matches during the same period.

Men’s events still attract larger audiences, with 54% saying they watched them live.

However, the difference narrows when it comes to attending matches in person.

Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said they had attended women’s sporting events. For men’s sport, the figure stands at 37%.

Despite these improvements, traditional perceptions about women in sport remain widespread.

Around 43% of respondents said they believe women’s sport is less entertaining than men’s sport. This marks an increase from 38% in 2020.

There was also a rise in respondents who said female athletes are not feminine enough.

These views are not limited to male respondents.

According to the study, nearly one in two respondents believes sportswomen should look attractive. Women were more likely than men to agree with this statement.

The survey also examined wider participation in sport across India.

Overall participation has improved slightly in the states covered by the study.

Seventy-four per cent of respondents said they played sports as children. This is up from 69% recorded in 2020.

However, participation drops significantly in adulthood.

Only half of those who played sport as children said they continue to do so.

Time pressures appear to be the main barrier. Two-thirds of respondents said they do not participate in sport because of time constraints.

The survey paints a complex picture of women’s sport in India.

Participation and viewership are clearly growing, driven largely by younger women and high-profile sporting successes.

Achievements by athletes and teams have increased visibility and inspired a new generation.

Yet long-standing cultural attitudes continue to shape how sportswomen are perceived.

For women’s sport to reach its full potential, both opportunity and perception will need to evolve together.