In a fitting tribute to women’s cricket’s foundational figure, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has immortalised former India captain Diana Edulji by naming Gate No. 5 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium the “Diana Edulji Gate.”
The grand ceremony unfolded Thursday night, where MCA celebrated legendary Indian cricketers by inscribing their names on stadium gates and stands, recognising Edulji’s unparalleled legacy as the first woman in the BCCI selection panel and a pioneer who captained India in the sport’s nascent international era.
Wankhede Stadium, forever etched in history as the site of India’s triumphant 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory and home to the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, now bears Edulji’s name as a beacon for future generations. Edulji’s stellar career from 1976 to 1993 showcased her as a left-arm spinner extraordinaire and resilient right-handed batter. She led India in four Women’s Tests, all ending in draws, and 18 Women’s ODIs, securing seven wins against 11 losses, laying crucial groundwork for the team’s evolution.
The Indian women’s team, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, under the guidelines of head coach Amol Muzumdar, lifted India’s maiden ICC title at the senior level in the women’s game as India defeated South Africa, led by skipper Laura Wolvaardt, by 52 runs in the final on 2nd November 2025 of the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, hosted by India and partly in Sri Lanka from 30th September to 2nd November 2025. The Final took place at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. Harmanpreet Kaur became the first Indian captain to lift an ICC title at the senior level, and that too at home.
India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, will be travelling to South Africa for a five-match T20I series from 17th to 27th April 2026, in the build-up ahead of the upcoming 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup hosted by England and Wales from 12th June to 5th July 2026.
Diana Edulji’s statistical dominance remains legendary. In Women’s Tests, Edulji claimed 63 wickets at an average of 25.77 and an economy of 1.91 across 35 innings in 20 matches, including two four-wicket hauls and a six-wicket haul, the third-most wickets in Test history. She’s the only bowler to deliver 5,000+ (5098) balls in the format. With the bat, she amassed 404 runs at 16.16 in 30 innings, featuring an unbeaten half-century. In ODIs, she snared 46 wickets at 16.84 and 2.37 economy in 34 innings across 34 matches, with a four-wicket haul, while scoring 211 runs at 8.79 in 30 innings.
Edulji’s journey began with a Test debut on October 31, 1976, against the West Indies in Bengaluru, and an ODI debut on January 1, 1978, versus England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. She retired from international cricket post-1993 Women’s Cricket World Cup after 17 illustrious years, but graced domestic cricket until 2000. Accolades followed: the Arjuna Award in 1983, Padma Shri in 2002, and ICC Cricket Hall of Fame induction in 2023.
This honour at Wankhede underscores Edulji’s enduring impact, inspiring a new wave of women’s cricketers in India amid the sport’s meteoric rise. As the gate welcomes fans, it symbolises not just her wickets and leadership, but the unyielding spirit that spun women’s cricket into a global force.
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