Former BCCI president N Srinivasan’s past comments on women’s cricket have resurfaced following India’s recent Women’s ODI World Cup triumph. During his tenure, which was marred by controversies, including the 2014 IPL betting scandal, his attitude toward women’s cricket drew severe criticism.
Former India women’s captain Diana Edulji had revealed Srinivasan’s dismissive stance years ago, calling him out for being chauvinistic. “When Mr Srinivasan became president, I went to congratulate him at the Wankhede Stadium. He said, ‘If I had my way, I wouldn’t let women’s cricket happen.’ He hates women’s cricket,” Edulji had stated back in 2017 after India’s heartbreaking loss in the Women’s ODI World Cup final.
Edulji further elaborated on her long-standing criticism of the BCCI’s attitude toward women players. “I’ve always been a BCCI basher, right from the day women’s cricket came under the BCCI fold in 2006. 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,” she had said. Her statements have gained new relevance as fans recall how far Indian women’s cricket has come since those days.
Progress Under New Leadership
After Jay Shah took charge as BCCI secretary, women’s cricket in India witnessed remarkable progress. The introduction of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the decision to offer equal match fees for male and female cricketers marked a major shift in approach. These reforms have not only elevated the sport’s visibility but also provided a professional platform for upcoming talent. The World Cup victory symbolised the culmination of these positive changes and a fitting response to those who once undermined the women’s game.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s Balanced Perspective On Criticism
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, whose leadership played a crucial role in the team’s World Cup success, addressed the value of criticism in her post-match remarks. “I think criticism is also a part of life. It’s not necessary that everything should be good,” she said, acknowledging that challenges help the team stay grounded. “Criticism is one of the main things in life because it brings balance. Otherwise, if everything goes well, you’ll be overconfident. I don’t blame those who criticise, because we know when we aren’t doing something right.”
Despite facing questions about her captaincy after a series of losses in the league stage, Harmanpreet maintained composure. “I don’t have much to say, but I like to keep both things balanced. When good things happen, I don’t go too high; when bad things happen, I don’t dig deep,” she explained.
Her philosophy of maintaining emotional stability extended to her leadership style: “For me, the most important thing is to stay balanced, and I try to send the same message to my teammates. 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.”
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