Number of women cricketers in India doubles compared to 2020

A study commissioned by the BBC and Collective Newsroom has found that participation in cricket by Indian women has doubled since 2020. The research, conducted across 14 states in the country, also found that one in four young women, aged 15-24, have chosen the sport as a career, up from 16% in 2020. The proportion of women who say they play cricket in the states surveyed has risen from 5% in 2020 to 10%.

There has been a further increase in participation among young women. 16% of women aged 15-24 say they play cricket, up from 6% in 2020. Cricket has also strengthened its position as the most played sport among women in the states surveyed. In 2020, it had only narrowly surpassed kabaddi, but the new data shows it is now ahead by a significant margin.

The increase in participation has been seen in most regions. All states, except for two, that were part of the survey have seen an increase in the number of women playing cricket. In Uttar Pradesh, the level of participation has increased tenfold, from 1% previously. The survey also found that the gender gap in cricket participation has narrowed in the states surveyed. The research shows that for every woman who plays cricket, three men play the sport, down from one in five in 2020.

The study highlights broader changes. 26% of young women, aged 15-24, who were surveyed said they had considered a career in sports, 10% more than in 2020. The greatest interest was seen in Tamil Nadu (27%), Madhya Pradesh (19%), and Meghalaya (19%).

The study also found that 51% of people had watched coverage of women's sports over the past six months, a figure only 10 percentage points behind those who had watched men's sports. There has also been an increase in viewership for the Women's Premier League (formerly the Women's T20 Challenge), up from 15% in 2020 to 28% now. This figure is now almost on par with viewership for the men's league. The research suggests that the recent successes of Indian women players have played a significant role in this growth.

According to the survey, the national team is the primary reason people say they follow or participate in women's sports. This is followed by support for individual women players, whereas previously the main reason was a general interest in sports. The survey also found that there has been a particular increase in women participating in badminton, especially in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

The study also highlights the challenges that remain. 13% of women who do not play any sport cite safety concerns as a barrier. 43% of respondents say that women's sports are less entertaining than men's. Almost half (46%) believe that women in sports should be attractive, up from 37% in 2020. 65% of respondents who do not play sports cite a lack of time as the main reason.

Tim O'Ferrall, BBC News' Regional Director for South Asia, said, "It's encouraging to see that more Indian women are playing, following, and watching sports than in 2020. The BBC is proud to have helped increase the profile of women on our platforms and is committed to telling their stories."

Rupa Jha, Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of Collective Newsroom, said, "The results show progress and ongoing challenges. While participation and viewership are increasing rapidly, stereotypes and practical challenges remain. We hope these numbers will spur further discussion and action in support of women players."

The study is based on the results of a survey conducted by global research and insights company Kantar between December 2025 and January 2026. Researchers conducted face-to-face (CAPI) interviews with more than 10,000 people aged 15 and above across 14 Indian states. The results are compared to a similar survey conducted in 2020 as part of the BBC's Indian Sports Women of the Year (ISWOTY) initiative, which honors and celebrates the achievements of Indian women.