Cricket Feature: Smriti Mandhana and the Rise of Indian Women's Cricket

Women's cricket starved for equal opportunities as men's cricket despite the former having accommodated the first World Cup of cricket. However, times are changing, and a substantial rise in the popularity of women's cricket has been recorded since 2010. 

In the early 2000s, the women's team in India began to be seen. They entered the final of the World Cup for the first time in 2005 but lost to Australia, but 12 years later, they did it again. 

Therefore, the 2017 Women's World Cup held in England was the initiator of change. Most of the matches were broadcast live in India

The Women's T20 Challenge boosted viewership

The Women's T20 Challenge is a tournament organised by BCCI, which could morph into an entire league in the future. The 2020 edition grabbed more viewers and reached 60% more people than a tour by India's men's cricket team being played simultaneously. 

There is also an observed rise in women's engagement with cricket in India. IPL 2020 recorded a 21% growth in female viewership compared to its previous season. 

The Indian team advanced to the Women's T20 World Cup final for the first time and played the summit clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 86,174 spectators. 

Smriti Mandhana's influence over the years

Smriti Mandhana has been scripting history as one of the most influential women cricketers. The left-handed batter is the second cricketer to compete in a foreign Twenty20 league, and she is also credited with a World Cup century. 

She cracked into the senior team at 15 and played a crucial role in India's historic 2014 test victory in England during her debut. She became the first Indian to play in the Kia Super League in June 2018. 

The same year, she was named in the Hobart Hurricanes' squad in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). Madhana's achievements include the Arjuna Award and the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year (2019). 

She has received the title of Women's Cricketer of the Year twice. In 2021 she made 855 runs in 22 internationals with one century and five half-centuries. When she was 20, she backed a double-ton in a domestic one-day competition and a century in the Australian World Cup. 

Smriti Mandhana has additionally been open about her opinion on the gender pay gap. She called it a significant issue and criticised how the revenue for the Women's Cricket Team comes from the Men's Cricket Team. 

Smriti Mandhana key player during India's snapback against England

England won the Twenty20 International (T20I) series 2-1 against India during the latter's ongoing tour of England. Still, the One Day International (ODI) series has just taken off, and Mandhana's brilliant form threatens the host.

Despite losing the T20 series, the Indians performed brilliantly in the second match. Smriti Mandhana hit an unbeaten fifty after off-spinner Sneh Rana took three wickets and landed a nine-wicket win over England. 

She scored 79 off 53 balls and shot 13 fours. India then started the ODI series with a seven-wicket win as they restricted England to 227 for seven before chasing it down in 44.2 overs. 

Vice-captain Mandhana completed a stroke-filled 91 off 99 balls and helped the team take out the visitors comfortably. They await the second match of the ODI series on Wednesday as India leads 1-0.