Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Mandira Bedi's Secret Support Saved Indian Women's Cricket
Imagine a group of talented girls who loved playing cricket but didn't have enough money to travel for important games.
Their team wasn't famous, and nobody was helping them.
Then, a TV host named Mandira Bedi, who used to present cricket shows, found out they were in trouble.
She decided to help them in secret!
Mandira used money she earned from an advertisement to buy them plane tickets so they could go to England for a big match.
She also convinced companies to give money to help the team.
Because of her help, the girls could keep playing and practicing.
Later, a bigger organization called the BCCI started helping women's cricket.
Mandira's quiet help was super important because it kept the team going until they got more official support.
Mandira Bedi anonymously funded the Indian women's cricket team's airfare to England in 2003.
Before 2006, the team was managed by the underfunded Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI).
Bedi used her industry connections to raise funds and secure sponsorships for the team between 2003 and 2005.
She convinced Asmi Jewellery to sponsor the team's 2004 series against the West Indies.
Her support provided crucial aid and visibility to women's cricket before the BCCI took over in 2006.
- Who
- Mandira Bedi, former actress and cricket presenter, along with former WCAI secretary Nutan Gavaskar
- What
- Mandira Bedi anonymously donated her endorsement fee and raised funds to support the struggling Indian women's cricket team, enabling them to travel for international tours and securing sponsorships.
- When
- Primarily between 2003 and 2005
- Where
- India and England
- Why
- To ensure the Indian women's cricket team could continue to play internationally during a period of severe underfunding and lack of support before the BCCI took over management in 2006.
- Beneficiary
- Indian Women's Cricket Team
- Key Figure
- Mandira Bedi
- Time Period
- 2003-2005
- Crucial Aid
- Funding for airfare to England tour (2003)
- Sponsorship Secured
- Asmi Jewellery for 2004 series
- Management Body (Pre-2006)
- Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI)
- Takeover by BCCI
- 2006