In a compelling revelation, former India captain Mithali Raj has shed light on the arduous early days of women’s cricket in India, a time when passion far outweighed financial reward. Her candid interview, which resurfaced after India’s triumphant 2025 World Cup win, paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced by players nearly two decades ago.
Raj recounted the meager earnings from the 2005 World Cup, where despite leading India to their first-ever final, each player received a mere ₹1,000 per match. “We played eight matches in that tournament, so we got ₹8,000 in total,” Mithali recalled. “Back then, we didn’t even have annual contracts or a proper match fee structure.” The Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI), then managing the sport, operated without significant sponsorship, forcing players to often travel in general train compartments and stay in basic hotels. Their drive came purely from their love for the game, as funding was practically non-existent.
A significant turning point arrived in 2006 when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took women’s cricket under its fold. This brought much-needed financial stability and improved infrastructure. Players gradually moved from per-series payments to per-match fees, and eventually, central contracts were introduced, reflecting a growing recognition of their efforts.
The most groundbreaking change came in 2022, when the BCCI announced equal match fees for both men and women cricketers. This historic decision positioned India as a global leader in advocating for gender equality in sports. Today, women cricketers earn ₹15 lakh for a Test match, ₹6 lakh for an ODI, and ₹3 lakh for a T20I – mirroring the pay scale of their male counterparts. For Mithali Raj, who also guided India to the 2017 World Cup final, this journey represents a complete circle. She has witnessed the transformation from a time of earning just ₹1,000 per game to watching Indian women lift a World Cup as fully professional athletes, backed by world-class facilities and equitable remuneration.