Women's cricket in India has reached new heights. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian women's cricket team created history as they won the Women's World Cup 2025, their first world title. The victory came with record-breaking rewards, India earned USD 4.48 million (around Rs 39.78 crore), the largest prize money in Cricket World Cup history, and an additional Rs 51 crore as bonus from the BCCI.

However, things were very different in the past. Legendary cricketer Mithali Raj, who is still India’s highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs, recently spoke about the struggles during her early playing days. In an interview earlier this year, Mithali revealed that when India finished runners-up in the 2005 Women’s World Cup, the players received only Rs 1,000 per match. Her words have once again reminded fans of how far women’s cricket has come.

Between 1973 and 2006, women’s cricket in India was governed by the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI) before merging with the BCCI in November 2006. During that period, the players faced several hardships and little recognition for their efforts, as Mithali revealed in a heartfelt interview.

Mithali Raj Opens Up on Life Before BCCI Merger

“There were no annual contracts. There were no match fees. When we finished runners-up in the Women's World Cup 2005, we were given Rs 1,000 per match. Just for that tournament. We didn’t have any match fees otherwise,” Mithali shared, recalling the challenges of the early years.

“There was absolutely no money in the sport, so where would we get match fees from? These (match fees and annual contracts) started when things came under the BCCI. First, we were given per series, then per game, and only recently has there been pay equity with the men's team,” she added.

See Also: South Africa captain tops ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings after record World Cup 2025

In October 2022, then BCCI Secretary Jay Shah made a historic announcement, both men’s and women’s players would receive equal match fees. This meant Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I. Mithali’s old remarks show how much women’s cricket in India has grown, from Rs 1,000 per match to equal pay and global glory.

The Women's World Cup 2025 triumph is not only a result of the collective effort from the present team India players but also a reflection of the contributions made by the legends of the game. Without the dedication, perseverance, and resilience from some of the former India women's cricketers, Team India could not have won the World Cup in 2025. Behind the historic feats, there are multiple creators who dared to dream big. Through this article, we will try to find out 5 legends of Indian women's cricket, without whom the current scenario could be different. 

Diana Edulji: 

When cricket was limited for girls across the nation, Diana Edulji was the person who inspired the girls to take part in the game. From a young cricketer to becoming a part of the cricket administration, her journey is no less than an epic. She was known for her fierce spin bowling abilities and played for India from 1976 to 1993, a career of three long decades. The slow left-arm orthodox appeared in 20 Test matches and 34 One Day Internationals for India. In the longest format of the game, she amassed 404 runs and claimed 63 wickets at an impressive average of 25.77. And in ODIs, Edulji got 46 wickets, maintaining a remarkable bowling average of 16.84, and scored 2011 runs as well. It was her dream to see the Indian Women's Cricket Team with the World Cup in hand. Harmanpreet Kaur-led India made her dream true.

"I just have no words to explain. This is the proudest moment of my life. 50 years of my being on the cricket field as a player and an administrator. I am just absolutely thrilled… that star on the jersey, it’s now come true, and it’s a proud moment for me," the stalwart said. 

Neetu David:

Inspired by Diana Edulji, Neetu David dared to dream as a cricketer at the highest level of the game. The former India spinner, who is now the BCCI women’s selection committee chairperson, was a key figure behind India's 2005 World Cup run to the final, where they ended their campaign as the second-best team of the tournament. David was the highest wicket-taker in the 2005 Women’s World Cup with 20 wickets. Apart from the World Cup record, another feat of Edulji, to date, remains unmatched. She holds the best bowling figures in women’s Tests with 8/53 against England.

Read More: WATCH: Only Rs 1000 per match! Mithali Raj shocking revelation after World Cup 2025 Final

Anjum Chopra:

Like Neetu David, Anjum Chopra was also an integral part of the 2005 World Cup team India. She was the first Indian women's cricketer to play 100 ODIs. Throughout her illustrious career, the former batter featured in 127 ODIs, 12 Tests, 18 T20s, and 4 World Cups. For exceptional batting qualities and dedication to the game, Chopra was honored with the Arjuna Award (2007) and Padma Shri (2014) and also received the ICC Player of the Match title thrice. After retiring from professional cricket, she emerged as one of the most influential characters in Indian women's cricket. 

Mithali Raj:

The former India captain, under whose leadership stars of the present team like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma cemented their positions in the international cricket arena. Raj led Team India in multiple World Cups but was not fortunate enough to claim the title. Mithali Raj, probably the first superstar of Indian women's cricket, represented India 333 times across formats to score 10,868 runs. 

Jhulan Goswami: 

The legendary figure of Indian cricket inspired multiple generations through his unmatched pace bowling skills and leadership skills. The Padma Shri awardee was the first ever Indian woman to take 200 wickets in ODIs. Goswami played over 200 ODIs and more than 70 Test matches for India. She was honored with the ICC Women’s Player of the Year award in 2007.

The former Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, has lauded the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side for showing their love and respect to the past heroes by handing them the World Cup 2025 trophy, something which the men didn’t do. He praised the gesture of acknowledging, as it reflects the spirit and humility of true champions. 

After the end of the clash, the Blue Brigade let Anjum Chopra, Mithali Raj, and Jhulan Goswami lift the trophy. Speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, Ashwin found the moment incredibly good, besides adding that the victory was the years of struggle and resilience laid by a generation of women cricketers.

See Also: RCB star to lead India A in Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup 2025 in Doha

“I am actually taking my hat off to the Indian women's team. The Indian men’s team has never done something like this. We say it in front of the media, but I’ve never seen them give credit to the previous generation. They always talk like ‘my generation team is better than yours. Anjum Chopra was there; Mithali Raj was there to see them in delight.” Ashwin expressed in the YouTube video.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on India women’s side’s gesture of respect towards past heroes

Batting first, India posted 298/7 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to 87 by Shafali Verma, while Deepti Sharma notched up 58 runs at a strike rate of 100. Laura Wolvaardt smacked 101 in the chase but lacked support from the other end.

🚨🚨 Ravi Ashwin's salute to Indian women cricket team

"They gave the trophy to Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami & dedicated this to previous generation superstars.

Indian men team has never done something like this, we say in front of media but I never seen they gave the credit to… pic.twitter.com/SUCKS5oeTj

— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) November 3, 2025

“The victory that Indian women have achieved today has not been achieved today. It’s been a work of 25 years — probably three decades. What about your Diana Eduljis? What about your Sudha Shahs? What about your Anjum Chopras? What about your Jhulan Goswamis? Jhulan was there doing commentary yesterday. I’ve always said Jhulan Goswami is the Ishant Sharma or probably Zaheer Khan of women’s cricket.” The former spin all-rounder shed light.

“I am so sorry- the way they’ve been compared with men’s cricket is wrong. That’s conditioning. I want to change. All of you should change. Please don’t compare. This is a pure inspirational story. That’s why I find this women’s team amazing. After winning, you are on a real high — still, you remember to celebrate your previous generation of cricketers who were there in the dressing room.” Ashwin concluded.

The India Women's cricket team receives crores of rupees as prize money from both the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for winning the World Cup 2025, defeating the South Africa Women's team in the final of the tournament. As the winner, Team India received approx. Rs 39.55 crore from ICC, in addition to another huge amount of money from BCCI.

In a press release, BCCI informed, "To honor this unprecedented success, the BCCI has announced a cash reward of INR 51 crore for the players, support staff, and selection committee in recognition of their remarkable performance, dedication, and contribution to the nation's sporting glory."

Now, from the game, men or women, any cricketer can fetch a handsome amount of money. But the situation was not the same two decades ago. In a recent interview, former India skipper Mithali Raj made some shocking comments. She claimed that, during the 2005 World Cup, when the India Women's team became the runners-up, they received only Rs 1,000 per match. As they played 8 matches in the tournament, they got only Rs 8,000.

Read More: IPL 2026: KL Rahul to KKR trade deal unlikely to happen — Know why

Mithali Raj made shocking revelation when they played the 2005 World Cup

It was a shocking revelation; no one could imagine that massive gap between the two decades in Indian women's cricket. "When we became runners-up of the 2005 Women’s World Cup, we got just ₹8,000 for the entire tournament, ₹1,000 per match," Mithali Raj said.  

Mithali Raj: “When we became runners up of the 2005 Women’s World Cup we got just ₹8,000 for the entire tournament ₹1,000 per match.”

These women cricketers have struggled a lot man. Thanks to Jay Shah because of him, women cricketers now get equal pay to men. pic.twitter.com/GuPnTBDW2w

— ADITYA (@Wxtreme10) November 3, 2025

In the final of the Women's World Cup 2005, India was up against Australia; Mithali Raj was then the captain. It was a low-scoring match. The Australia Women's team went to bat first in the first innings and scored only 215 runs in exchange for 4 wickets. India faced a batting disaster when they went to chase the target. They managed to score only 117 runs before losing all of their scalps; the Australia Women's team lifted the World Cup 2005 trophy.

On their third attempt, India’s women's side, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, finally broke the jinx of 2005 and 2017 to claim the 2025 edition title by beating South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Apart from Laura Wolvaardt’s century, none of the Protea players were able to stand in the middle with the bat.

They shared the moment with the former players, Jhulan Goswami, Mithali Raj, and Anjum Chopra, who lifted the field and shared an emotional moment. Harmanpreet shed light on the moment and looked back at how they promised them of the success.

See Also: BCCI announces massive cash prize for India's Women's World Cup 2025 winning team

“Jhulan di was my biggest support. When I joined the team, she was leading it. She always supported me in my early days when I was very raw and didn't know much about cricket. Anjum di, too. Both of them have been a great support for me. I'm very grateful that I got to share a special moment with them. It was a very emotional moment. I think we all were waiting for this. Finally, we were able to touch this trophy.” Kaur expressed after the end of the clash.

Watch: Harmanpreet Kaur shares Women’s World Cup 2025 trophy with Anjum Chopra, Mithali Raj, and Jhulan Goswami

In the same post-match ceremony, Kaur thanked her seniors for supporting her when she was new to the team. The BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, has also announced a cash prize of INR 51 crore for the success.

“I've played many World Cups with her [Mandhana]. Every time we lost, we went home heartbroken and stayed quiet for a few days. When we returned, we always said, 'We have to start again from ball one. ' It was heartbreaking because we played so many World Cups - reaching finals, semi-finals, and sometimes not even that far. We were always thinking, When will we break this?” Kaur added.

🗣 "𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚" 🇮🇳💙#CWC25 #Champions #IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/Z2cxxW9ImI

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) November 2, 2025

Former India international cricket player Anjum Chopra celebrate with the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup trophy. pic.twitter.com/zHjPEpNSHn

— Cricket Picture that Goes Hard (@HardCricketpix) November 2, 2025

Speaks large volumes about Harman the human being to keep her ego aside and honor a legend, Mithali Raj

pic.twitter.com/mAddEo56sW

— Fantasy Cricket Pro 🏏 (Viren Hemrajani) (@FantasycricPro) November 2, 2025

The legendary former Indian women’s captain, Mithali Raj, reckons that Australia would have doubts before facing India in the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2025 on October 30 at the Dr DY Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. India would have a massive pressure to beat the defending champions after losing the group-stage clash at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

India finished the league stage of the event in the fourth position of the points table with a victory against New Zealand and faced a washout in the last game against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai due to persistent rain.

See Also: "Can score anything..."- Travis Head sends stern warning to India before AUS vs T20 1st T20I

“Maybe Australia also has a few doubts when it comes to knockout matches, especially if they’re facing India. There’s now a growing belief that it’s possible to beat this Australian side, despite all their strengths: the deep batting lineup, the strong bowling attack, and the number of quality all-rounders in the XI. The Indian setup seems to genuinely believe this, given the number of matches they’ve won this year.” Raj expressed during a recent interaction with Star Sports. 

Watch: Mithali Raj highlights Australia’s chances in AUS vs IND Women’s World Cup 2025

The veteran addressed that the Blue Brigade would need to get early breakthroughs against Australia. They heavily depend on the opening partnership of captain Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield. She suggested the Blue Brigade bat first and put scorecard pressure on the Australian side.

Do Australia have more to lose? 👀

Mithali Raj's take on the big #INDvAUS semi-final 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/57k9C92R2C

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 28, 2025

“It’s crucial to get early breakthroughs in the first 10 overs when playing Australia because they rely heavily on the start that Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield provide. Looking at the last few games, Ellyse Perry hasn’t been among the runs either, which gives some hope.” Raj reflected.

“If the bowlers can maintain pressure in the middle overs, the runs can be curtailed. But if Australia builds a partnership, that’s where the trouble begins. You need bowlers who can break those partnerships consistently. If India’s openers get off to a good start and if Smriti Mandhana gets going, the batting can revolve around her. We’ve seen that in the third ODI of the recent bilateral series.” Australia's women’s captain shed light.

The former Indian captain, Mithali Raj, will get a stand named after her at the ACA-VDCA stadium in Visakhapatnam on October 12, along with the Indian and Andhra Pradesh wicket-keeper batter, Ravi Kalpana, will also have a stand named after her name on that day. It’s the day when the Blue Brigade will face Australia in the ODI World Cup clash.

Mithali Raj is the leading run-getter in the history of the Women’s ODIs. The Indian batter smashed 7805 runs at an average of 50.68 and a strike rate of 66.19 with the help of 64 fifties and seven centuries at the best score of unbeaten 125 runs. The Rajasthan-born also cracked 2364 runs in the shortest format with 17 fifties.

See Also: 'Can't judge form or fitness of...'- Former selector makes stunning claim on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's selection for Australia ODIs

“The ACA’s tribute to Mithali Raj and Raavi Kalpana reflects a deep commitment to honoring the trailblazers who have redefined women’s cricket in India while inspiring the next generation to dream bigger.” The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) expressed in a statement.

Mithali Raj and Raavi Kalpana to have stands named after them at ACA-VDCA stadium

In the past, there were stands named after only men’s cricketers, despite the incredible contribution of the women’s players in the game. The current vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, requested during a fireside chat with the minister, Nara Lokesh, at a ‘Breaking Boundaries’ event in August this year.

“Smriti Mandhana’s thoughtful suggestion captured a wider public sentiment. Translating that idea into immediate action reflects our collective commitment to gender parity and to acknowledging the trailblazers of women’s cricket.” Lokesh expressed.

In November last year, Raj was selected as the mentor of Andhra’s women’s cricket team, with her primary responsibilities including nurturing and scouting the young talents across the state. Kalpana, on the other hand, represented the national side in seven ODIs between 2015 and 2016, with her last game coming against Sri Lanka at Ranchi nearly a decade ago.

Indian cricket’s past and present stars came together in Mumbai to celebrate 50 days to go for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, which returns to the subcontinent after nine years. The event saw legends Mithali Raj and Yuvraj Singh share the stage with current captains Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues.

Harmanpreet Kaur spoke about how Yuvraj Singh has inspired her over the years. “We want to break that barrier all Indians are waiting for. World Cups are always special, and I always want to do something special for my country. Whenever I see Yuvi bhaiya, it motivates me a lot,” she said.

Talking about the upcoming ODI series against Australia, Harmanpreet said it will be a good test for the team. “Playing against Australia is always tough, and it shows us where we stand. This series will give us a lot of confidence. We’ve worked hard in our training camps, and the results are showing,” she added.

Harmanpreet Kaur said "Whenever I see Yuvi Bhaiya, it gives me a lot of Motivation". pic.twitter.com/PF4sHGfZ5R

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 11, 2025

Yuvraj Singh also shared a special message for the women’s team. “It’s a great chance to create history. But you shouldn’t think about winning from the very start. Enjoy the journey, focus on the process, and the results will come,” he said.

ALSO READ: OTD: Three legends of West Indies played their last ever Test match

The event also launched the ICC Trophy Tour, starting in Mumbai and travelling to all host cities, including Delhi. As part of a school program, students will get a chance to be part of the tournament, and some schools will even receive match tickets.

It’s not new to someone who knows cricket in India. Going to any small localities or slums, there is a requirement for a bat and ball, and the game is on. Whether it’s beside a building, a small premises, or anywhere, there is joy. This is the sport that binds the entire country and its various characters. 

In a recent documentary by the BBC, called ‘Abhishek Bachchan: Cricket, India & Me’, various players, Jos Buttler, Mitali Raj, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, have joined the famous Bollywood actor, Abhishek Bachchan, in shedding light on how cricket can be a force for good in India.

See Also: [WATCH] Andre Russell gets guard of honour on retirement from International cricket

‘On that field, everybody is equal, and it’s how good you are at that sport. A lot of that has been highlighted and has increased after, say, the IPL (Indian Premier League) started.’ Junior Bachchan expressed in a video posted by the BBC.

Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mitali Raj discuss cricket’s growing popularity in India

‘Crocket certainly feels like a great social leveller in India. I think there are some incredible success stories that you hear (of) Yashasvi Jaiswal, Chetan Sakariya, and two great examples in the Rajasthan Royals of how cricket has completely changed their lives.’ Jos Buttler, the former England captain, who has been a regular member of the IPL since 2018, addressed.

🇮🇳 Cricket in India can be a huge force for good.

A new @BBCiPlayer documentary looks at the impact our sport can have. Hear from:

🎙 @juniorbachchan
🎙 @SrBachchan
🎙 @josbuttler
🎙 @ybj_19
🎙 @JemiRodrigues
🎙 @M_Raj03

'Abhishek Bachchan: Cricket, India & Me' on iPlayer. pic.twitter.com/bnofGwnvav

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 22, 2025

‘Of course, it’s not easy for a poor village to come to Mumbai and be with the smart kids in Mumbai because you feel nervous, you don’t know how to speak English, you don’t know anything because you are not educated that much, and they will keep teasing you as a kid. It’s hard.’ The Indian opening batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal, shed light.

‘You have all sorts of players coming from different parts of the country. At the end, the talent and the performance speak louder and in that sense, I think cricket is a social leveller.’ The former captain of the India women’s cricket team, Mitali Raj, expressed in the video. Apart from these members, Amitabh Bachchan and Jamimah Rodrigues are also part of the video, where they discuss the rise of the game in India over the years, especially after the start of the IPL.   

The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, honoring distinguished achievements in various fields, including sports. Numerous Indian cricketers will have been recognized for their remarkable achievements in the game of cricket over these years, with cricket being both the most awarded and most recognized sport in the award category due to cricket being a main part of Indian culture. As of April 2025, there are 40 cricketer recipients of the Padma Shri award, made up of 37 men and 3 women, which partly explains why there are more male cricketers on this list due to history. I hope to frame the discourse around the Padma Shri-awarded cricketers, with reasons for why these cricketers have achieved this prestigious recognition, and lastly their legacies as cricketers, with a table to list all the named recipients of the Padma Shri.

The Padma Shri has been awarded to cricketers since 1960. The first Indian cricketer to receive this award was Vijay Hazare. Cricketers are recognized not just for their competitive performances while advocating for and cultivating Indian cricket on and off the field or elevating the status of cricket in India and internationally. There is history and legacy in having led India to momentous victories and other career milestones. Cricketers have even broken world records or placed Indian cricket on the world stage in a developing cricketing nation. Interestingly, 24% of the awards in sports are awarded to cricketers, illustrating the significance of cricket in India.

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List of Cricketers Honored with Padma Shri

Below is a table of 22 explicitly named cricketers who have received the Padma Shri, based on available records up to 2025. While 40 cricketers have been honored, some names are not widely documented in public sources.

Cricketers honored with the Padma Shri embody excellence, perseverance, and national pride. Their achievements have shaped Indian cricket’s legacy, inspiring future generations to dream big and strive for greatness.