Following India’s historic ICC Women’s World Cup victory on Sunday, an old remark by former BCCI president N Srinivasan has resurfaced online, drawing sharp criticism from fans and former players. The remark, recalled by former India captain Diana Edulji in 2017, allegedly revealed Srinivasan’s hostility toward women’s cricket during his tenure as the board’s chief.
According to Edulji, after Harmanpreet Kaur’s 171-run knock against Australia in the 2017 Women’s World Cup semifinal, she had recounted an exchange with Srinivasan from 2011, when he first took charge as BCCI president. “When Mr. Srinivasan became president, I went to congratulate him at the Wankhede Stadium,” Edulji had said at the time. “He said, ‘If I had my way, I wouldn’t let women’s cricket happen.’ He hates women’s cricket.”
Edulji, a pioneering figure in Indian women’s cricket and former member of the Committee of Administrators (CoA), had added that the BCCI remained a “male-chauvinist organisation” even after it took women’s cricket under its fold in 2006. “I’ve always been a BCCI basher, right from the day women’s cricket came under the BCCI fold in 2006,” she had said. “BCCI is a very male-chauvinist organisation. They never wanted women to dictate terms or get into this space. I was very vocal right from my playing days.”
The resurfacing of these comments comes amid national celebrations after India’s women’s team clinched its first-ever World Cup title, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a dominant performance at the final on Sunday.
Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India posted 298/7 in 50 overs after being sent in to bat. Opening batter Shefali Verma, who was only called back into the squad as injury cover for the finals, top-scored with a career-best 87 off 78 balls, anchoring India’s innings.
In reply, South Africa was bowled out for 246 in 45.3 overs, despite a fighting century by captain Laura Wolvaardt (101). Spinner Deepti Sharma delivered a match-winning spell, taking 5 wickets for 39 runs from 9.3 overs, including the final wicket of the match that sealed India’s triumph.
Speaking after the win, Harmanpreet Kaur addressed the criticism her team has faced in recent years, saying she sees it as an opportunity for growth rather than negativity. “I think criticism is also a part of life. It’s not necessary that everything should be good,” she told reporters. “Criticism brings balance. Otherwise, if everything goes well, you’ll be overconfident. I don’t blame those who criticize, because we know when we aren’t doing something right.”
Kaur added that she encourages her teammates to maintain perspective through highs and lows. “When good things happen, I don’t go too high; when bad things happen, I don’t dig deep. The most important thing is to stay balanced. When everything is going well — it’s okay, well done, but now we have to maintain it. And even when things aren’t going well, we try to keep everyone together so that we can lift that person up.”
The resurfaced 2017 comment has reignited discussions about the historical neglect of women’s cricket in India, juxtaposed against the team’s current success. Fans and former players have pointed to the irony of India’s rise to global dominance despite institutional apathy in earlier decades.
India’s 2025 World Cup victory marks a milestone for women’s sport in the country, underscoring both the players’ resilience and the need for sustained support from cricketing authorities.
(Source: Times of India)
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