RCB captain Smriti Mandhana says women don’t want equal money, we want equal respect

Over the years, women’s cricket has seen a remarkable metamorphosis, with rising sponsorships, viewership, and a burgeoning fan base. India’s top batter and captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) women’s team, Smriti Mandhana, is one of the main players in this revolution.

Smriti Mandhana discussed how women’s cricket has changed and how the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has been instrumental in this evolution at a Sports-Forward Nation event on Monday, February 3. According to the cricket player, who helped RCB win their first WPL championship last year, the tournament’s success has drastically changed the way that women’s cricket is discussed. Stadiums were largely deserted during her early playing days, but now they are filled, indicating the increased interest in women’s sports, the Mumbai native said.

When we first began playing, even for the Indian team, stadiums were largely empty. However, these days, if we play as an Indian team or with RCB, stadiums are packed. As a cricket player or sports fan, I think it’s just a great, beautiful thing to watch. More significantly, I think that often people misunderstand us and assume that women want equal things, but all we need is equal respect. The fact that people recognise us, value us, and critique us is fantastic. People are watching women’s sports, so I believe they care about them. Thus, I believe it’s a voyage, and I sense it,” Mandhana remarked.

Sania Mirza became a symbol of inspiration for us: Smriti Mandhana

In addition, the 28-year-old disclosed that women’s sports are expanding outside cricket alone. She stated that Sania Mirza was an athlete who inspired the ladies who were attempting to play sports.

“I thought we sounded ancient when we said that back when I first started. However, my brother’s playing and my father’s enjoyment of dating were the main reasons I picked up the bat and ball. Therefore, to put it simply, women’s sport progressed. I wouldn’t even discuss women’s cricket. I believe that when I was ten or eleven years old, we first learnt about Sania Mirza‘s rise to fame. We all realised that, “Whoa, there’s a girl in sports,” and it motivated us,” she continued.

In the meantime, the WPL is about to begin its third season, which will take place from February 14 to March 15 at four different locations. The season opening between the RCB and Gujarat Giants will take place in Vadodara.