NEW DELHI: India’s women’s cricket team created history by winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs after decades of consistent effort and dedication.
The victory symbolises not just the skill and resilience of the players but also the systems and initiatives that have helped shape women’s cricket in India into a professional, competitive sport.
Visionary leadership and equal pay drive change
Jayesh George, chairman of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) Governing Council, credited former BCCI secretary Jay Shah for steering Indian women’s cricket towards this era of dominance. “As India celebrates our women as world champions, it’s important to recognise the vision that led to this amazing, confident team pulling off an incredible win,” George told TimesofIndia.com.
George highlighted the equal-pay decision in 2022 as a major milestone, describing it as a cultural shift rather than just a promise. “Jay Shah’s equal-pay decision in 2022 set the tone, making parity a practice, not a promise,” he said.
Richa Ghosh opens up on India’s historic World Cup triumph and her finisher’s role
WPL and Domestic structures nurturing talent
George also underlined the role of the WPL in giving players exposure and preparing them for high-pressure matches. “While the WPL gave our athletes a world-class stage and resources, the introduction of age-group tournaments and red-ball cricket domestically brought in depth and a platform where women players were moulded for the big matches,” he explained.
Applauding the fearless approach shown by Harmanpreet Kaur’s side, he said, “The outcome is visible today with the team giving a fearless performance on the pitch even as enthusiastic fans packed the stadium.”
George added that women’s cricket has now become a legitimate career path. “Cricket is now not just a dream but a reality for thousands of women who want to play the game. Jay’s vision and persistence have ensured that women cricketers today stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men,” he said.
