On November 2, India’s women’s cricket team made history by winning their first World Cup. The country erupted in celebration, social media flooded with edits, reels and proud messages. But one post stood out. It came from someone who had seen the struggle long before it became a headline. Mandira Bedi’s support for women’s cricket did not start after the victory. She was part of the fight when the game was barely alive.
When she walked into a man’s world
In the early 2000s, cricket on television in India was almost completely dominated by men. The commentary boxes, studio panels and production teams were all-male spaces. Then came Mandira Bedi, a well-known television actress, walking into the 2003 World Cup studio with confidence and a smile.
Many people thought she did not belong. They mocked her, dismissed her as the extra in Extraaa Innings. They talked more about her clothes than her cricket questions. Some senior players barely acknowledged her. It was a lonely place to stand.
But Mandira stayed. She studied the game late into the night, prepared her own notes and memorised statistics. She refused to walk away. Her journey inside the studio mirrored the women’s team’s struggle outside it, both fighting for the right to be seen and respected.
The invisible years of women’s cricket
Before the BCCI took over, women’s cricket in India survived on very little. The players travelled in general train compartments, shared equipment and often stayed with local families on foreign tours because there was no money for hotels. Sponsorships were rare. Match fees were nonexistent. Yet they played with pride, believing that one day their efforts would be recognised.
When Mandira stepped in
Between 2003 and 2005, the women’s cricket board struggled to find even one sponsor. Mandira, then the brand ambassador for Asmi jewellery, decided to help. She convinced the company to sponsor the Indian women’s team’s ODI series against the West Indies in 2004 and gave up her own endorsement fee to make it happen.
The money helped the Women’s Cricket Association of India arrange air tickets and better training facilities. Former cricketer and WCAI secretary Shubhangi Kulkarni later said Mandira’s decision was a turning point. It brought visibility and made corporate sponsors realise that women’s cricket was worth investing in.
Her quiet impact
Mandira never looked for credit, but her actions made a lasting difference. She opened doors for women in sports broadcasting and helped bring attention to a team that had long been ignored. Her journey reflects the same spirit as the players she supported, walking into a space that questioned her presence and staying until she proved she belonged.
From struggle to celebration
Today, India’s women cricketers play in packed stadiums, supported by sponsors and millions of fans. Their World Cup win is not just about that one night. It is about the foundation built by those who came before them.
Mandira Bedi’s name may not be written in record books, but her contribution lives on in every young player who dreams of wearing the India jersey. When she shared a simple tweet after the historic win, it barely made headlines. But some victories are quiet. They exist not in applause, but in the knowledge that change once began with a single act of belief.
