I’ll admit it: I didn’t always follow women’s cricket. Like a lot of people, I grew up watching the men’s game—the big stadiums, the roaring crowds, the endless highlights on TV. But a few years ago, something shifted. It started with the 2017 Women’s World Cup final. I caught the last few overs by accident while flipping channels, and I was stunned—not just by the tension of the match, but by the sheer skill, composure, and heart those players showed under pressure. England vs. India. Anya Shrubsole’s bowling spell. The silence in the stadium before the final ball. I was hooked.
Since then, I’ve made a point to follow the women’s game more closely. And honestly, it’s been one of the most rewarding “side hobbies” I’ve picked up. There’s a raw authenticity to women’s cricket that’s hard to describe unless you’ve watched it. Less commercial glitz, more pure love of the game. Fewer sponsor logos, more grit. The players often juggle part-time jobs, studies, or parenting alongside training—yet they deliver performances that rival anything you see in the men’s arena.
Take the Women’s Premier League (WPL), for example. When it launched in 2023, I expected decent cricket. What I got was electric. The crowd energy in Mumbai, the breakout stars like Shreyanka Patil, the way teams like Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals went all-in—it felt like witnessing the birth of something special. And unlike some men’s leagues that can feel like scripted entertainment, WPL matches often come down to the last over, decided by players you’ve never heard of… until that moment.
But what really excites me is the ripple effect this is having off the field. Girls in schools across India, Australia, England, and even unexpected places like Rwanda and Thailand are picking up bats because they finally see someone who looks like them on TV. Coaches are reporting record sign-ups for girls’ cricket camps. Parents—many of whom had never considered sport as a serious path for their daughters—are now asking about scholarships and development pathways.
And here’s a funny thing: my own social feed has changed. I follow more female athletes now. I share WPL highlights with friends who used to only talk football or F1. Last month, I even helped organize a little backyard cricket match for my niece and her friends—complete with homemade stumps and way too many dropped catches. They laughed, argued over LBW decisions, and didn’t care that they hadn’t played before. They just wanted to play. That’s the magic.
Now, I know what you might be thinking: “Okay, but how does this connect to everyday life—or even to something as random as gaming?” Well, here’s the link: today’s young fans don’t just watch cricket—they live it across platforms. Many of them are gamers too. They stream matches on Twitch, play cricket mods on Xbox, or join Discord servers to debate player stats. And if you’ve ever tried to surprise a teen (or even a 20-something!) who loves both cricket and gaming, you know how hard it is to find a gift that hits the mark.
A jersey? They might already have it. A bat? Too bulky. But a digital gift they can actually use—like an Xbox gift card—can be perfect. Whether they’re buying a new game, subscribing to Game Pass to watch simulated matches, or just treating themselves after a long week of practice, it’s a flexible, thoughtful option. I’ve used services like gift2money.com for this exact reason—quick, reliable, and tailored for gamers who also happen to be huge cricket fans (or vice versa).
What I love most about women’s cricket is that it’s still growing. It hasn’t been polished into a corporate product yet. You can still feel the passion in every boundary, every diving stop, every post-match interview. There’s room for fans to shape its future—to attend local matches, support content creators covering the women’s game, or even write about it (like I’m doing now).
So if you’ve never given women’s cricket a real chance, I’d urge you to try. Watch a WPL highlight reel. Follow a player like Sophie Ecclestone or Deepti Sharma on Instagram. Attend a domestic match if you can. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it—not because it’s “women’s cricket,” but because it’s just… great cricket.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up organizing a backyard match for your niece too. Or sending a gift card to your little sister who just bowled her first maiden over in a school game. Small gestures, sure—but they add up.
Because the future of cricket isn’t just about runs and wickets. It’s about inclusion, joy, and the quiet moments that inspire the next generation to pick up a bat—and never put it down.
Loves all things female cricket