Brief History of India Women’s National Cricket Team
Women’s cricket arrived in India with the Women’s Cricket Association in India (WCAI) which was formed in the year 1973. WCAI, the governing body of women’s cricket was later affiliated with the International Women’s Cricket Council before it was merged into BCCI in 2006/07. The Indian women’s cricket team is now governed by the Board of Cricket Control in India. The Indian side is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), competing across formats – Women’s test, Women’s One Day International (WODIs) & Women’s Twenty20 Internationals (WT20Is).
Historical Highlights – India Women’s National Cricket Team
1) Red Ball History
The Indian women’s cricket team played their first-ever test match in 1976, hosting the West Indies in a six-test-match series. India’s first-ever test match was played at Bangalore with Shanta Rangaswamy leading the Indian side, resulting in a draw. India registered their first-ever test win in the fourth match of the series with India winning by five wickets in the presence of 25,000 spectators at Patna. The series resulted in a draw finishing 1-1.
It was in 1977, that the Indian women’s side played their first-ever away test. India toured Australia for a one-off test against Australia at Perth. It was India’s first-ever away test, resulting in a loss as Australia won the match by 147 runs.
2) One-Day International History
It was in the 1978 World Cup when the Indian side played their maiden ODI match. The 1978 World Cup was hosted by India itself. India played their maiden ODI match against the English side at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Diana Edulji was the Indian skipper in India’s first-ever ODI match. India suffered a huge defeat as England overpowered the hosts winning the match by nine wickets while chasing 64. India was vulnerable in that edition, not securing a single win that edition losing all three of their matches. The early years for the Indian side were marked by inconsistency & lack of international exposure.
In the 1994/95 season, New Zealand women’s Centenary tournament was played which involved India & Australia. India won a One Day series for the first time when they participated in the Centenary Celebration of New Zealand Cricket in 1995. They beat the New Zealand women’s team, the White Ferns, in the final for their first-ever One Day series win. In 1999 they toured England for a multi-format tour and secured an ODI series win by beating the host 2-1.
The team’s turning point came in the form of reaching the final of the 2005 and the 2017 Women’s World Cups. Although they couldn’t lift the trophy, these achievements significantly elevated their status.
3) Twenty20 Internationals History
India played their first-ever T20I match against England in England at Taunton. Mithali Raj was leading the Indian side in India’s maiden T20I match which was played in the year 2006. India registered a win over England in that match chasing a total of 109.
India participated in the first edition of the women’s T20 World Cup & had an impressive outing after making it to the semi-final in the edition. Jhulan Goswami was leading the side in the 2009 women’s T20 World Cup. It was in 2020 that the Indian side progressed to the final of the World Cup which was played in Australia.
Tournament Highlights – India Women’s National Cricket Team
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup:
India has participated in 10 out of 12 Women’s Cricket World Cups from 1973 to 2022. They did not compete in the inaugural 1973 tournament and in 1988. India’s best performances came in 2005 and 2017, when they finished as runners-up. They have reached the semi-finals twice, in 1997 and 2000. In their most recent appearance in 2022, India finished 5th in the group stage. Throughout their World Cup history. Despite their consistent participation and some strong showings, India has yet to win a Women’s Cricket World Cup title. Their next opportunity will come in the 2025 tournament, on home soil.
| Year | Position |
| 1978 | Group Stage |
| 1982 | Group Stage |
| 1988 | Did not Compete |
| 1993 | Group Stage |
| 1997 | Semi-Finals |
| 2000 | Semi-Finals |
| 2005 | Runners-Up |
| 2009 | Super-6s |
| 2013 | Group Stage |
| 2017 | Runners-Up |
| 2022 | Group Stage |
ICC Women’s T20 Cricket World Cup:
The team has participated in all the eight World Twenty20 tournaments from 2009 to 2023. Their best performance came in 2020 when they finished as runners-up. They have reached the semi-finals four times – in 2009, 2010, 2018, and 2023. In three seasons (2012, 2014, and 2016), they were eliminated at the group stage. Despite their consistent participation and some strong showings, including reaching the final once, the senior team has not yet won a World Twenty20 title. Their overall record shows they have been competitive in this format, often reaching the later stages of the tournament.
| Year | Position |
| 2009 | Semi-Finalists |
| 2010 | Semi-Finalists |
| 2012 | Group Stage |
| 2014 | Group Stage |
| 2016 | Group Stage |
| 2018 | Semi-Finalists |
| 2020 | Runners-Up |
| 2023 | Semi-Finalists |
ACC Women’s Asia Cup:
The team has participated in all nine Asia Cup tournaments from 2004 to 2024. Their performance in this competition has been exceptional. They have won the championship seven times – in 2004, 2005-06, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2016, and most recently in 2022. Their only non-championship finishes came in 2018 and 2024, but those as well in the final, runners-up. Throughout their Asia Cup history, this remarkable record demonstrates the team’s dominance in the Asia Cup, having won 7 titles out of the 9 tournaments they’ve participated in so far. Their consistent success in this regional competition showcases their strength and skill compared to other Asian teams.
| Year | Positions |
| 2004 | Champions |
| 2005-06 | Champions |
| 2006 | Champions |
| 2008 | Champions |
| 2012 | Champions |
| 2016 | Champions |
| 2018 | Runners-Up |
| 2022 | Champions |
| 2024 | Runners-Up |
Commonwealth Games:
The 2022 Commonwealth Games marked the debut of women’s cricket in the event, and India put on a strong foot in this tournament. The Indian team competed impressively throughout the tournament, ultimately securing the silver medal. They finished in second place overall, demonstrating their high level of skill on the international stage. Throughout the competition, India played a total of 5 games. They won 3 of these matches and lost 2, showing a solid performance against top oppositions. This silver medal finish highlights India’s strength in women’s cricket and their ability to compete at the highest levels of international competition.
Asian Games:
The Indian women’s cricket team made their Asian Games debut in 2022, having not participated in the previous two editions in 2010 and 2014. Their first appearance was a resounding success as they clinched the gold medal, finishing in first place overall. Throughout the tournament, India played 3 games, winning 2 of them. They didn’t lose any matches with one game washed out and the other – no result. This impressive performance led the Indian team to winning the gold in their very first Asian Games appearance, underscoring the strength and skill of the team on the Asian stage.
Domestic Competitions:
1) Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy
It is a domestic List A cricket tournament in India for women which is organized by the Board of Cricket Control in India. The tournament is played in a 50-over format with all Indian states and most Union Territories fielding their teams. The first edition of the tournament was played in the year 2006-07. A total of 37 teams participate in the tournament. The tournament is played in a round-robin format. The most successful side in the tournament is Railways who have won 15 titles to their name to date. The tournament has played a crucial role in developing young Indian talent specifically in the ODI format. It serves as a tournament for future national team stars, providing a competitive platform for players.
2) Senior Women’s T20 Trophy
Organized by The Board of Cricket Control in India, it is a domestic T20 women’s competition played in India. The tournament is played between 37 teams, played in a round-robin format. The first edition of the tournament was played in the 2008-09 season with Railways winning the inaugural edition. Railways are the most successful team in the tournament.
Franchise leagues:
Women’s Premier League
Women’s Premier League is a premier women’s Twenty20 franchise-based league in India. The inaugural edition of the tournament was played in 2023 with the tournament being organized by BCCI. A total of five teams participates in the tournament which is played in a double round-robin format. The tournament aims to attract a wider audience in women’s cricket in India as well. The tournament has had significant success so far. The first edition of the tournament was won by Mumbai Indians and the 2nd by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Salary Contract of Indian Women’s Side:
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented a grading system for women’s cricketers, similar to the men’s team. In 2023 the BCCI’s decision to equate match fees for women’s cricketers with their male counterparts was a major step towards pay parity. The match fees are as follows: 15 Lakhs per match INR for Test matches 6 lakhs INR per match for ODIS & 3 Lakhs per match INR for T20 matches.
As of the 2022-23 season, the grading system for women’s cricketers was as follows:
Grade A: INR 50 lakh
Grade B: INR 30 lakh
Grade C: INR 10 lakh