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As women’s cricket continues to gain traction globally, debates around pay equity and infrastructure improvements have taken center stage. In an exclusive conversation with Outlook India, Doorva Bahuguna, a leading advocate for the sport, argues that the focus should shift from merely increasing player salaries to addressing the systemic issues plaguing the cricketing pipeline. Bahuguna emphasizes that sustainable growth in women’s cricket hinges on grassroots development, better training facilities, and robust support systems, underscoring that fixing the pipeline-not just the pay cheque-is essential for the game’s long-term success.
Fixing Infrastructure Gaps to Elevate Women’s Cricket Performance
Addressing the root causes behind the underperformance in women’s cricket requires a fundamental overhaul of the current infrastructure. Rather than merely increasing salaries, experts argue for a holistic development plan focusing on grassroots programs, accessible training facilities, and comprehensive support systems. Without these foundational improvements, the talent pipeline remains shallow, limiting the potential pool of elite players ready to compete at international levels. Key priorities include:
- Investment in regional academies to nurture local talent from an early age.
- Regular domestic tournaments providing competitive match experience for emerging players.
- Enhanced coaching standards with specialized trainers attuned to the unique physical and technical needs of women cricketers.
- Accessible fitness and rehabilitation centers to ensure optimum health and longevity in careers.
A comparative glimpse at existing resources highlights the disparity between men’s and women’s cricket infrastructure. For instance, the availability of dedicated practice nets and quality turf pitches per million players remains disproportionately skewed. The following table illustrates a simplified contrast in select areas that underscore the urgent need for infrastructure parity:
| Resource Type | Men’s Cricket | Women’s Cricket | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Training Academies | 120 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual Domestic Tournaments | 50+ | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Addressing Systemic Barriers Holding Back Female CricketersDespite the growing visibility of women’s cricket, many talented female players continue to face systemic hurdles that stifle their progress long before paycheques come into play. Limited access to grassroots facilities, scarce development programs, and a lack of professional coaching remain persistent challenges. These foundational gaps create a leaky pipeline, where promising young athletes are often forced to abandon the sport due to insufficient opportunities and support. Without targeted investments in nurturing talent at the club and school levels, efforts to equalize salaries will remain a Band-Aid rather than a cure. Key barriers include:
To illustrate, the disparity in developmental support can be seen in regional outreach:
Cultivating a future generation of champions requires dismantling entrenched obstacles through comprehensive policy reforms, enhanced funding at the grassroots, and community-driven initiatives. Ultimately, the focus must shift from merely increasing match fees to building a robust ecosystem that empowers female cricketers at every stage of their journey. Building Grassroots Support and Long-Term Development StrategiesTo truly revolutionize women’s cricket, investment must begin at the grassroots, cultivating young talent through sustained community programs and school-level competitions. This means forging partnerships with local clubs, educational institutions, and sports bodies to provide accessible coaching clinics, infrastructure, and mentorship opportunities. Without such foundations, efforts to improve pay and visibility remain superficial-addressing symptoms rather than systemic issues. As Doorva Bahuguna notes, empowering aspiring female cricketers early on creates a broader, more competitive talent pool that can thrive at higher professional levels.
Long-term growth also demands a strategic framework focused on transparent talent identification and continuous player development. Creating regional academies with standardized training modules and performance tracking can bridge the current disparity in opportunities. Additionally, policies encouraging clubs and franchises to prioritize women’s cricket foster an ecosystem where careers are nurtured beyond episodic tournaments. A data-driven approach, combined with consistent funding, positions women’s cricket not as an afterthought but a serious sporting enterprise.
To Wrap It UpAs Doorva Bahuguna emphasizes, the future of women’s cricket hinges not on superficial fixes but on systemic change. Addressing the grassroots pipeline-from infrastructure and training to visibility and investment-is crucial to building a sustainable and equitable platform for female athletes. Only by nurturing talent from the ground up can Indian women’s cricket hope to achieve lasting success and recognition. The conversation sparked by Bahuguna serves as a timely reminder that the game’s growth depends less on immediate financial incentives and more on creating opportunities that empower players at every level. - Advertisement - 
Mia Garcia
A journalism icon known for his courage and integrity.
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