celebrating women’s cricket at blades of glory: a journey of passion, history, and pride

Cricket has always been a huge part of life in India. For years, we’ve cheered for big wins, world records, and unforgettable moments. While men’s cricket has been in the spotlight, women’s cricket has quietly grown with strength, heart, and history of its own. At Blades of Glory Cricket Museum, we believe every story in cricket deserves to be told. From the early matches to today’s rising stars, the journey of women’s cricket in India is powerful, inspiring, and something every fan should know.

How It All Started: A Glimpse into History

The journey of women’s cricket in India began way back in 1913, when the game was introduced to girls in a school in Kerala by Anne Kelleve. But it was only in the 1970s that it started becoming more organized. The first women’s cricket club in India, ‘Albees’, was formed in 1971, followed by the Indian Gymkhana women’s team in Bombay. They played exhibition matches across the country to promote the sport. In 1973, the first National Women’s Championship was held, and in 1976, India played its first official international Test match against the West Indies. India even hosted the Women’s World Cup in 1978, just two years after its debut. These early efforts laid the foundation for the growth of women's cricket in India Did you know? India couldn’t participate in the 1988 Women’s World Cup because of lack of sponsors. It was one of the toughest phases in women’s cricket history, but it also made the future rise even more meaningful.

One Big Step toward Equality

• In 2022, the BCCI made history by announcing equal match fees for men and women representing India, a proud and long-awaited step forward.

• Our Rare & Legendary Collection

• At Blades of Glory, we do more than just display history; we preserve the moments that made it.

• One of our most special pieces is Jhulan Goswami’s shoes from the 2017 Women’s World Cup semi-final, where India defeated Australia. Jhulan bowled brilliantly, giving away just 35 runs and taking 2 crucial wickets. Her shoes are not just a collectible; they're a symbol of pride, power, and performance under pressure.

Also part of our growing collection is a set of signed bats from all teams of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL). These bats carry the signatures of the stars shaping modern women’s cricket, from Harmanpreet Kaur to rising stars like Shafali Verma. Each bat represents the strength and future of the women’s game.

The Women’s Cricket Zone: A Space for Legends

Our Women’s Cricket Zone is one of the few of its kind in India, created to celebrate the achievements of our women cricketers. This section features match-worn, autographed jerseys from some of the finest names in the game:

• Smriti Mandhana – graceful and fearless opener

• Jhulan Goswami – legendary fast bowler

• Deepti Sharma – consistent all-rounder

• Poonam Yadav – creative and clever spinner

• Rajeshwari Gayakwad – calm and reliable performer

• Jemimah Rodrigues – young, vibrant talent

Every jersey in this zone has a story a story of hard work, dreams, and never giving up

Inspiring the Future

One of the most beautiful things about this zone is how it connects with young fans, especially girls. When they walk in and see these jerseys and shoes, they realize that cricket is for everyone. It inspires them to believe that they, too, can represent India one day. We hope that every visit lights a spark in the hearts of the next generation of cricketers.

The Women’s World Cup is in India!

Yes, its official India will host the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2025.This is more than just another tournament. It’s a chance for Indian fans to come together, cheer for their team, and watch our women shine on the world stage.

The last World Cup in New Zealand (2022) showed how far women’s cricket has come. And with India as host this time, it promises to be bigger, better, and unforgettable.

Why You Should Visit Blades of Glory

As the country gets ready for the World Cup, there’s no better time to visit Blades of Glory Cricket Museum. No matter if you’re a lifelong cricket fan or just curious, this is your chance to walk through the real stories of Indian women’s cricket from the pioneers to today’s heroes.

Come and see what makes this journey so special.

Let’s cheer for the legends. Let’s support the future.

Let’s celebrate the women who made cricket what it is today.

- Deven Patil

(Student, Sports Management & Cricket enthusiast)

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