BBC Study Highlights Dramatic Rise in Indian Women's Cricket Engagement
A comprehensive new study commissioned by the BBC and conducted by Collective Newsroom has uncovered a significant increase in women's participation in cricket across India. The research, which surveyed 14 states, indicates that the proportion of women playing cricket has doubled from 5% in 2020 to 10% in 2026.
Youth Engagement and Regional Growth
Among young women aged 15 to 24, participation has surged even more sharply, rising from 6% to 16%. This growth is widespread, with all but two of the surveyed states reporting increases. Uttar Pradesh stands out with a tenfold jump, from 1% to 10%.
Cricket has solidified its position as the most played sport among women in these states, now firmly ahead of kabaddi, which it only narrowly led in 2020. The gender gap in participation has also narrowed, with the ratio of men to women players improving from 5:1 in 2020 to 3:1 currently.
Career Aspirations and Viewership Trends
The study reveals broader shifts in attitudes toward sports. Twenty-six percent of young women surveyed have considered a career in sport, up from 16% in 2020, with Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Meghalaya showing the highest levels. Additionally, 51% of respondents report following women's sports coverage in the past six months, now within 10 percentage points of men's sports viewership.
Viewership for the Women's Premier League (WPL) and its precursor, the T20 Challenge, has risen from 15% in 2020 to 28% in 2026, approaching levels seen for men's leagues. Support for the national team is now the primary motivator for following women's sport, replacing general interest in sport as the top reason in 2020.
Challenges and Barriers Remain
Despite progress, the study identifies ongoing challenges. Safety concerns are cited by 13% of women who do not play any sport as a barrier. Lack of time is the main reason for 65% of non-participants. Stereotypes persist, with 43% of respondents believing women's sport is less entertaining than men's, and 46% think sportswomen should be attractive, up from 37% in 2020.
Rupa Jha, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of Collective Newsroom, commented, "The findings show both progress and continuing barriers. While participation and viewership are rising fast, stereotypes and practical challenges remain. We hope this data will prompt further discussion and action to support women athletes."
Methodology and Context
The study builds on a survey administered by Kantar between December 2025 and January 2026, involving over 10,000 face-to-face interviews across 14 Indian states. It compares results with a similar 2020 survey as part of the BBC's Indian Sportswoman of the Year initiative, which celebrates achievements in women's sports.
