The roar of 39,555 fans at the DY Patil Stadium was deafening. As Deepti Sharma took her fifth wicket to seal India's first-ever Women’s World Cup victory, it wasn't just a trophy being lifted; it was the culmination of a quiet revolution that began decades ago. Today, with a Rs 51 crore reward from the BCCI and a massive ICC prize purse, it's hard to imagine a time when our star players earned just Rs 1000 per match. The journey from those days of struggle to this era of glory has one pivotal year: 2006.
But to understand why 2006 was so crucial, we must go back to where it all began, not in the busy metros of Mumbai or Delhi, but in the heart of Lucknow.
The story of organised women's cricket in India starts with one man: Mahendra Kumar Sharma. A visionary from Lucknow, Sharma saw potential where few others did. In 1973, he founded the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI), laying the first stone of a national structure for the sport.
While the first women's cricket club, 'The Albees', was formed in Mumbai in 1969, it was Sharma who built the national framework. He organised the first national women’s cricket competition and, through sheer determination, convinced various states to form teams. For years, the WCAI, operating from its Lucknow headquarters, was the heartbeat of the women's game. It was from this city that team announcements were made and legends like Diana Edulji and Shanta Rangaswamy were first discovered.
Parallel to the WCAI's efforts, another institution was playing a saviour's role: the Indian Railways. From as early as the 1970s, when funding was a major hurdle, the Railways stepped in. They provided women cricketers with something invaluable, job security and financial stability.
By recruiting top talent and even providing AC coaches for travel, the Railways ensured that players could focus on the game without financial worry. They launched the Inter-Railway Women’s Cricket Tournament, creating a robust, competitive platform that nurtured generations of players.
BCCI Merger of 2006
Despite these efforts, the sport struggled for widespread recognition and financial muscle. For context, as recent as the 2005 World Cup, a star like Mithali Raj was paid only Rs 1000 per match.
The turning point came in 2006.
This was the year the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) officially merged with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Overnight, the fortune changed. The headquarters moved from Lucknow to Mumbai, but more importantly, women's cricket now had the backing of the richest and most powerful cricket board in the world.
The BCCI's infrastructure, funding, and marketing prowess injected the women's game with a new life. This merger was the catalyst that accelerated the sport's growth, leading to better pay, more exposure, and professional support for players, setting the stage for the global success we celebrate today.
The fruits of that 2006 decision are now in full bloom. The recent World Cup victory, led by Harmanpreet Kaur and powered by stars like Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma, is a direct result of that foundational shift.
The financial recognition tells its own story. The BCCI's announcement of a Rs 51 crore cash prize for the team, coupled with the ICC's prize money of approx. Rs 40 crore, stands in stark contrast to the Rs 1000 per match fees of 2005.
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