The Indian women’s cricket team made history in 2025 by winning the Women’s World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs. As teammates celebrated on the field, former captain Mithali Raj reminded fans of the struggles players faced in the early days of women’s cricket.
Mithali recalls the early struggles
In a throwback interview with Lallantop, Mithali Raj shared how tough things were before women’s cricket came under the BCCI. She said there were no contracts or match fees, and when India were runners-up in 2005, players received only Rs 1,000 per match.
Playing purely for passion
Her words show how the players played purely for the love of the game, with almost no financial reward. The real change began after women’s cricket came under the BCCI, which started offering payments per series and per match.
Pay parity brings real change
A major turning point came in October 2022 when the BCCI introduced pay parity. For the first time, women cricketers began earning the same match fees as the men. Under Jay Shah’s leadership, women’s cricket started receiving the recognition it long deserved.
Recognition and rewards
After the 2025 World Cup triumph, the ICC awarded Rs 40 crore, while the BCCI added another Rs 51 crore to honour the team’s achievement. These rewards reflect how far women’s cricket has grown, both in value and respect.
From Rs 1,000 to crores
Mithali Raj’s reflections highlight the dramatic journey of women’s cricket in India from Rs 1,000 per match to multi-crore rewards. The 2025 World Cup win proves that years of hard work, commitment, and institutional support are finally paying off.
A bright future ahead
With financial parity, better infrastructure, and complete backing from the BCCI, the future looks bright for Indian women’s cricket. Mithali Raj’s story is a powerful reminder of how far the sport has come and how much more it can achieve.
