When this Bollywood Actress helped India’s women cricketers chase their dreams

Before India’s women cricketers lifted the World Cup and became household names, they fought battles far beyond the field from scarce funding to lack of recognition. In those silent years, one unlikely hero stepped in to keep their dreams alive, Mandira Bedi, the actor, television host, and one of cricket’s earliest female presenters.

Between 2003 and 2005, when women’s cricket in India struggled for basic resources, Mandira quietly became its invisible sponsor. She donated her entire endorsement fee from a jewellery brand commercial to the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI), helping fund the team’s tour of England.

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Beyond the Spotlight

Nutan Gavaskar, former WCAI secretary, recalled that players often paid for their own travel to represent India. “That money helped us buy air tickets,” she said, crediting Mandira for stepping in when no one else did.

But Mandira’s generosity wasn’t a one-time gesture. She personally reached out to brands and corporates to raise funds, becoming one of the first public figures to champion women’s cricket long before it had the backing of the BCCI.

Changing Perceptions

Former cricketer Shubhangi Kulkarni said Mandira’s involvement changed how sponsors viewed the women’s game. “Once she took up our cause, corporates began to show interest,” she shared.

A Heartfelt Full Circle

Years later, as India’s women finally lifted the World Cup in 2025, Mandira celebrated quietly with a note that read, “You didn’t play for a nation, you moved it.”

Her act of kindness decades ago wasn’t just charity, it was a seed of belief that helped women’s cricket bloom.