Sneh Rana spoke about the big changes in Indian women’s cricket at the ‘We Women Want Conclave & Shakti Awards 2026’, where she praised the work done for the sport in recent years. She spoke about how the 2017 Women’s World Cup brought more attention to the Indian women’s team and helped the sport reach more people. Rana also thanked Jay Shah and the BCCI for helping women cricketers get better opportunities. She spoke about pay parity, more international series and the start of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Rana also shared a special memory about her cricketing idol, Sachin Tendulkar, and how his support after her Test debut made that moment even more special.
The ‘We Women Want Conclave & Shakti Awards 2026’, hosted by the Sunday Guardian Foundation, brought together women from different fields who have made a name for themselves through their work. The event included India’s first female F4 racer Shriya Lohia, former India captain Anjum Chopra, and cricketers Sneh Rana and Meghna Singh. The event focused on women who are breaking barriers, taking on new challenges and bringing change in their fields. During the event, Rana spoke about her own cricket journey and the changes she has seen in the women’s game. Her comments gave a clear picture of how much Indian women’s cricket has changed over the years.
Rana looked back at the growth of women’s cricket in India and pointed to the 2017 Women’s World Cup as an important moment. India reached the final of that tournament, and the team’s run brought much more attention to women’s cricket in the country. The players’ performance helped more people follow the Indian women’s team and take a greater interest in their matches. Rana said that the progress after that tournament has been clear, with women cricketers getting more chances to play and grow in the sport. She also spoke about the role of the BCCI in giving women players better support and creating more opportunities for them.
Rana gave special credit to Jay Shah for the changes seen in women’s cricket. She spoke about better pay for women cricketers, more regular international series and the arrival of the Women’s Premier League. She explained that many of these changes came after India’s 2017 World Cup campaign and that the sport has continued to move forward since then. The WPL has also given players a new chance to play high-level cricket and learn from experienced players from India and other countries. For Rana, these changes have helped create more chances for women cricketers than they had earlier.
“I will definitely say that when the 2017 World Cup took place, and the India team became the finalists, that is where the changes started. And then, of course, I will mention one name, Jay Shah sir. He has worked so hard for women’s cricket, and of course, BCCI. So, the biggest thanks to him is that he has brought a lot of changes. He has brought changes in pay parity. And now, back-to-back, there are a lot of women’s series, which were not there before. And then, WPL coming up. So, a lot of changes have come, but the change has started after 2017.”
One of the main changes Rana spoke about was pay parity. Better pay has been an important step in giving women cricketers better support and recognising their work. Along with this, the number of women’s international series has also increased, giving players more chances to represent India and play regularly at the highest level. More international matches also give players more time to improve their skills and learn from different match situations. For Indian cricketers, these regular opportunities can help them prepare better for major tournaments and build more confidence.
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has added another important chance for Indian women cricketers. The league has brought more attention to women’s cricket and has given players the chance to play alongside and against some of the best names in the game. For younger players, the WPL can be a valuable place to learn from senior players and coaches while playing in important matches. It has also helped more people watch and follow women’s cricket across India. Rana’s comments show that the growth of the sport is not linked to just one tournament, but to several changes that have taken place over time.
The rise in international cricket and the WPL has also helped create a stronger path for young players who want to build a career in the sport. Earlier, women players had fewer chances to play regularly, but the situation has changed with more matches now being added to the calendar. Regular cricket gives players more time to understand their roles, improve their game and gain experience under pressure. Young players can also learn by sharing the dressing room with senior Indian and overseas cricketers. These opportunities are helping build a stronger group of players for the future of Indian women’s cricket.
Rana also spoke about the cricketer who has always had a special place in her cricket journey. She named Sachin Tendulkar as her idol and remembered an important moment from her return to international cricket in 2021. Rana had been away from international cricket for five years before making her comeback and then made her Test debut. She performed well in that match, making her return even more special after such a long wait. What made the moment even more memorable was a tweet from Tendulkar after her performance.
For Rana, hearing from Tendulkar after her Test debut was more than just receiving a message from a famous cricketer. He was the player she had looked up to for years, so his support meant a lot to her at an important point in her career. After spending five years away from international cricket, returning to the team and performing well was already a big moment. Having her idol notice her performance made the experience even more meaningful. It is a memory that has stayed with Rana and remains one of the special moments of her cricket journey.
“My idol was Sachin sir. When I made a comeback after 5 years in international cricket in 2021, I made my debut in a test match and I performed well and then he tweeted about me. I was on cloud 9. He will always be special for me.”
Rana’s comments at the conclave also show how much Indian women’s cricket has changed in recent years. The 2017 World Cup brought a big increase in attention, while better pay, more international matches and the arrival of the WPL have created more chances for women players. These changes have helped the women’s game reach more people and have given players a better chance to show their skills. For someone like Rana, who has experienced different stages of the game, the difference is easy to notice. The sport now has more matches, more support and more ways for players to build their careers.
The growth of women’s cricket is still continuing, and there is more room for the sport to grow in the years ahead. Rana’s words show that this progress has come through the work of players, coaches, administrators and cricket bodies working together. Her praise for Jay Shah and the BCCI, her memories of the 2017 Women’s World Cup, and her special story about Sachin Tendulkar added a personal side to her views on the game. With more international series and WPL opportunities now available, Indian women’s cricket has come a long way and continues to create a stronger future for its players.
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