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Sports
Veteran Sudha Shah Marks 50 Years of Indian Women’s Cricket
✍️ BCCI
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 06:18 AM
👁 14
Former cricketer Sudha Shah reflected on five decades of Indian women's cricket, highlighting the sport’s growth and her role as a pioneer.
Sudha Shah, one of the earliest members of the Indian women’s cricket set‑up, participated in a BCCI‑hosted discussion commemorating 50 years of the sport in the country. In the conversation she recounted her debut in the 1970s, the challenges of limited infrastructure, and the gradual professionalisation that has transformed the game today.
She noted that the early squads operated with minimal support, often balancing cricket with full‑time jobs, yet their passion laid the foundation for the current generation of players who now enjoy central contracts and extensive media coverage. Shah praised the Board’s recent initiatives, including increased domestic tournaments and investment in grassroots coaching, as pivotal in widening the talent pool.
The veteran also emphasized the importance of role models for young girls, urging continued focus on school‑level programs and better facilities. Her reflections underscored how far Indian women’s cricket has come and the work that remains to sustain its upward trajectory.
She noted that the early squads operated with minimal support, often balancing cricket with full‑time jobs, yet their passion laid the foundation for the current generation of players who now enjoy central contracts and extensive media coverage. Shah praised the Board’s recent initiatives, including increased domestic tournaments and investment in grassroots coaching, as pivotal in widening the talent pool.
The veteran also emphasized the importance of role models for young girls, urging continued focus on school‑level programs and better facilities. Her reflections underscored how far Indian women’s cricket has come and the work that remains to sustain its upward trajectory.