Virat Kohli Praises India Women’s Cricket Team for Transforming Sports Culture
India’s cricket star Virat Kohli has highlighted the significant impact made by the Indian women’s cricket team, emphasizing how their recent successes have transformed public perceptions and boosted women’s sports across the country.
Speaking at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru, Kohli credited the women’s team’s notable achievements—including silver at the Commonwealth Games and gold at the Asian Games in 2022—for dramatically increasing fan engagement and financial investment in women’s cricket.
“Over the past six to seven years, the Indian women’s team has driven immense attention towards women’s sports,” said Kohli. “Their remarkable performances inspired people to engage deeply, leading to enhanced commercial interest and ultimately paving the way for the Women’s Premier League (WPL).”
Kohli emphasized the significance of the WPL, launched 15 years after the men’s IPL, noting it has already raised the profile and standard of women’s cricket considerably. “The league has propelled the sport two to three levels higher than before,” he remarked.
He also stressed the importance of developing a holistic sports culture that embraces both men’s and women’s sports equally. “True growth in sports requires inclusive support,” Kohli added. “India has abundant talent in women’s cricket and beyond—in tennis, badminton, wrestling, and boxing. Enhanced infrastructure and financial support for female athletes across all disciplines are vital to sustaining this momentum.”
Former Australian footballer and FIFA Council member Moya Dodd agreed with Kohli’s observations, asserting that women’s cricket in India could become a catalyst for growth in other sports. “The success and visibility of women’s cricket through platforms like the WPL are reshaping cultural views and encouraging broader societal acceptance,” she said during the summit.
Drawing parallels with Australia’s women’s football team—the Matildas—Dodd highlighted that India’s women’s cricket team could similarly spark significant social change, driving gender equality and greater inclusion in sports.
The continued achievements of India’s women’s cricket team indicate a promising future not just for cricket, but for women’s sports nationwide.
