Punjab Newsline,Sports :
16% girls in the 15–24 age group now playing cricket; every fourth young woman considering sports as a career option
The craze for cricket among women in India is growing rapidly. According to a recent survey, women’s participation in cricket has increased significantly over the past few years and has nearly doubled compared to 2020. This shift not only reflects the rising interest in sports among women but also indicates that many are now taking cricket more seriously and viewing it as a potential career option.
The survey was conducted by BBC and Collective Newsroom and included responses from more than 10,000 women across 14 states in India. The findings reveal that in 2020, only 5 percent of women reported playing cricket, whereas the figure has now increased to 10 percent. This growth highlights how cricket is gradually becoming a popular sport among women in the country.
The enthusiasm is particularly strong among younger women. Around 16 percent of girls in the 15 to 24 age group are now actively playing cricket. In comparison, this figure was just 6 percent in 2020. This indicates a sharp rise in the number of young girls taking up the sport within a short span of time.
The survey also revealed that one out of every four girls in this age group is considering sports as a career option. This clearly shows that cricket is no longer limited to being just a hobby or recreational activity for many young women. Instead, a growing number of them are now looking at the sport as a serious professional path.
Experts believe that the increasing recognition of women’s cricket, the strong performances of the Indian women’s team on international platforms, and the growing availability of sports infrastructure have played a significant role in encouraging this trend. If this momentum continues, women’s cricket in India is expected to reach new heights in the coming years.