Why Women’s Cricket Needs Prime Time and Real Investment

Women’s cricket has long been trapped in the question of “Why isn’t anyone watching?” But maybe the better question is: What can we do to get people watching? The path to deeper fan engagement isn’t mysterious—it just requires visibility, storytelling, and investment. Here’s how to actually grow the audience instead of just lamenting its absence.

Prime-Time, Not Marginal Time

Visibility is everything. Most women’s matches are slotted during non-prime hours—weekday afternoons or early mornings—which means potential fans miss out by default. High-stakes games deserve weekend slots and evening broadcasts, when working professionals and students can tune in easily. Broadcasters should also stop treating women’s games as pre-shows for men’s double-headers. When the Indian women’s team played a prime-time T20 match vs. Australia in 2022, over 47,000 fans filled DY Patil Stadium. That wasn’t a one-off—it was proof of concept.

Build Personalities, Not Just Stats

Fans fall in love with players, not just performances. Yet, how many fans know what makes Smriti Mandhana tick off the field? Or the journey that brought Saika Ishaque to the WPL spotlight? The men’s game thrives on rivalries, friendships, and redemption arcs—the women’s game needs the same. Platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Spotify interviews can be used to build character-driven content. Imagine a Netflix-style docuseries on the Indian women’s team—not just highlights, but heartbreaks, dressing room moments, and dreams. That’s how loyalty is built.

Change the Commentary, Change the Narrative

Commentary in women’s cricket still struggles with tone and insight. Often, it feels like an educational pitch to viewers—or worse, unfamiliar voices trying to fake familiarity. What’s needed is authenticity. More former women cricketers should be behind the mic—names like Lisa Sthalekar, Snehal Pradhan, and Ebony Rainford-Brent bring experience and respect. The more relatable the coverage feels, the more invested fans become. The goal isn’t to over-explain; it’s to celebrate the game with the same passion and pace as the men’s.

Keep the Cameras Rolling Beyond the Game

A major reason men’s cricket feels omnipresent is because content never stops. From press conferences to hotel vlogs to birthday celebrations, fans are always fed. The same should apply to women’s cricket. Document practice sessions. Highlight sibling bonds, friendships (like Jemimah Rodrigues and Heather Graham’s), or even the offbeat rituals of players. These micro-moments build macro followings. The BCCI, ICC, and franchises need dedicated digital teams focused on short-form content just for the women’s game.

Grassroots + Glamour = Sustainable Growth

Boosting the women’s game isn’t just about top-tier matches. Schools, colleges, and districts need infrastructure and incentives. Just like U-19 boys’ tournaments get eyeballs, a structured, well-covered women’s U-19 ecosystem would not only find talent—it would build regional fanbases. Add to that strategic marketing: stylish kits, personality-driven branding, or even curated theme nights (like WNBA’s Pride Nights) during WPL. Cricket is still conservative with its image—but that can change tastefully.

Final Over: Invest Like You Mean It

None of this works without belief at the top. Brands, broadcasters, and boards have to stop seeing women’s cricket as a checkbox. Investment must be consistent, not reactionary. If given the same storytelling tools, production value, and creative space, there’s no reason the women’s game can’t draw its own cult following—not as a shadow of the men’s sport, but as a different, equally thrilling version of cricket.

The fans are out there. They just need something real to hold on to.