BCCI Plans More Women's Test Matches Following WPL's Transformative Impact in India

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is committed to expanding and enhancing women's cricket, particularly by increasing the number of Test matches and multi-day domestic tournaments to elevate the game's standards and profile. Secretary Devajit Saikia highlighted the transformative impact of the Women's Premier League (WPL) on the Indian women's team's confidence and performance, as seen in their historic ODI World Cup semi-final win against Australia, which drew massive crowds and energized fans nationwide. The thrilling victory, marked by Jemimah Rodrigues' remarkable unbeaten 127, has been hailed as a pivotal moment that could boost the popularity and respect for women's cricket similarly to how the 1983 men's World Cup victory did for men's cricket. The BCCI aims to integrate more multi-day matches into bilateral series, moving beyond the predominant white-ball formats, to foster a more test-centric future for women's cricket in India. Meanwhile, the widespread public interest and packed stadiums during key matches indicate a significant shift in the perception and support of women's cricket within the country. However, challenges remain in other women's sports, such as baseball, where India's team struggles against more established Asian powers, highlighting the varying stages of development across women's sports in India.