Why Does Women’s Cricket Still Struggle for Visibility Despite World Cup Glory?
India’s Triumph, Media’s Silence
The nation that once erupted when India’s men won a trophy remained largely muted for its women champions.
This muted response raises an important question — why does such a deep gender gap still persist in coverage, sponsorship, and celebration, even when women athletes bring equal pride to the nation?
The Numbers Tell the Story
| Aspect | Men’s Cricket | Women’s Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Average Broadcast Viewership (India) | 120–150 million | 15–20 million |
| Sponsorship Revenue (2024 est.) | ₹1,800+ crore | ₹100–120 crore |
| Prime-Time Coverage (Post-Match) | 60+ minutes | 5–10 minutes |
These figures show not a lack of achievement, but a lack of amplification. Despite winning India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup across all formats, the champions were barely visible on national television or mainstream news portals.
Why Does the Gap Exist?
- ⚖️ Historical bias: Men’s cricket has enjoyed institutional support and media investment for over 80 years, while women’s cricket only gained steady traction after 2005.
- 📺 Commercial narrative: Broadcasters and advertisers chase ratings, assuming women’s matches attract fewer viewers — a cycle that perpetuates neglect.
- 🏏 Event scheduling: Women’s fixtures are often sidelined during major men’s tournaments, diluting attention and audience overlap.
- 📰 Editorial imbalance: Newsrooms still allocate disproportionate space to men’s results, undermining even historic women’s milestones.
This is not just a media oversight — it reflects a deeper cultural lag in how sporting achievement is valued by gender. The narrative must evolve from “women’s cricket” as a category to “cricket” as a unified sport.
How Can the Gap Be Bridged?
- 💡 Equal Broadcast Visibility: Mandate equal coverage hours for both genders during international tournaments.
- 📣 Corporate Inclusion: Encourage leading sponsors of IPL and men’s series to allocate at least 25% of budgets to women’s leagues.
- 🎓 Grassroots Programs: School-level girls’ cricket tournaments, scholarships, and state-level visibility can build stronger feeder systems.
- 📱 Digital Media Push: Social media creators and influencers can amplify player stories that mainstream media overlooks.
- 🎯 Policy Backing: BCCI and Ministry of Sports can jointly launch “Equal Game Plan” initiatives to ensure parity in pay, scheduling, and promotion.
Just as the WPL (Women’s Premier League) proved the appetite for women’s cricket is massive when marketed right, it’s time the same energy extends to international tournaments and national celebrations.
Beyond the Boundary — What India Must Learn
Women’s cricket is not a side note; it’s part of India’s sporting identity. Visibility breeds aspiration — every televised victory plants a dream in a young player’s heart. Equality in coverage is not a privilege, it’s a responsibility. As India celebrates becoming the first nation to win World Cups in all four categories — Men’s, Women’s, U19 Men’s, and U19 Women’s — this moment should unite the cricketing community, not divide it by airtime.
Investor Takeaway
Indian-Share-Tips.com Nifty Expert Gulshan Khera, CFP®, who is also a SEBI Registered Investment Adviser, observes that the disparity in sports coverage reflects the same imbalance seen in financial inclusion. True growth — in markets or sports — comes when opportunity and recognition reach everyone equally. To progress as a nation, India must invest as much in visibility for its women athletes as it does in infrastructure and funding. Explore similar socio-economic insights at Indian-Share-Tips.com, which is a SEBI Registered Advisory Services.
Related Queries on Women’s Cricket Coverage
- Why Was India’s Women’s World Cup Win Underreported by Media?
- How Can Sponsors and Broadcasters Bridge the Gender Gap in Cricket?
- What Steps Are Needed to Elevate Women’s Cricket Viewership in India?
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