Last month, the Indian women’s cricket team achieved Olympian heights in what should have been hailed as a landmark moment in Indian sports history—they defeated England on their home turf, winning both the T20I and ODI series. This dual triumph, especially on English soil, underscores the growing stature of Indian women’s cricket. Yet, what should have been celebrated from rooftops barely made a whisper across the nation’s newspapers or TV headlines. The front pages remained dominated by politics and men’s cricket minutiae. Electronic media, too, barely blinked. A six-wicket haul by Kranti Goud in the final ODI—an extraordinary bowling performance by any standard—went almost unnoticed.

This silence is not just disappointing; it is revealing. Despite consistent performances, rising viewership, and increasing participation of women in cricket, including the IPL, the media narrative continues to disproportionately favour men’s cricket—even when it is embroiled in controversies or underperformance.

Men’s cricket in India has a long and storied history, with cultural and emotional ties going back to the early 20th century. Kapil Dev’s 1983 World Cup victory transformed the sporting landscape of India. Since then, men's cricket has commanded the lion’s share of attention,........

© Free Press Journal