Mandira Bedi on World Cup win: I can’t get over it, proud to see the team setting milestones for women’s sports
By Ayush Sachan
Actor and television personality Mandira Bedi, one of the pioneering female faces of cricket broadcasting in India, continues to relish the euphoria of India’s historic triumph in the Women’s World Cup. With a beaming smile, she expresses her disbelief and joy, describing the victory as a culmination of decades of unwavering determination and growth.
The Indian women’s cricket team has made remarkable progress, transforming from a modest presence of 20-25 spectators in stadiums for their tournaments to a full house at DY Patil Stadium. This significant achievement follows a comprehensive defeat against Australia and South Africa. She expresses immense pride and joy, witnessing the team’s milestones in women’s sports in the country.
Mandira acknowledges the significance of their achievement, still taking it all in. She expresses the gradual settling of emotions, stating, “Seeing them everywhere, receiving the recognition they truly deserve, becoming household names, and receiving the rewards they’ve earned it’s heartwarming.”
The victory has also resurrected stories of Mandira’s early support for women’s cricket in the 2000s. Between 2003 and 2005, she discreetly contributed funds to assist the team during their resource-strapped times. “This news makes me a bit embarrassed because it’s been two decades,” she admits. “The team needed help back then, and I did what I could with the limited funds I had,” she adds.
She reminisces about her efforts to advocate for improved infrastructure and support: “I vividly recall meeting Jagmohan Dalmiya, the then BCCI chief, and discussing the merger of the WCA and BCCI. Back then, the players were struggling financially, unable to host tournaments or travel for matches. I didn’t hesitate to take action; I simply acted.”
Mandira explains that her contribution remained undisclosed for a specific reason: “It was never intended for publicity. Regrettably, women’s cricket lacked interest back then; it didn’t even receive a two-by-two space in newspapers.”
Now that the story has resurfaced, she believes it’s time to honor the team’s remarkable journey: “Someone should write a book or create a documentary about this incredible rise of women’s cricket in India. People are finally eager to learn about their story, and that can only strengthen the game’s future.”
Having recently interacted with members of the winning team, Mandira emphasizes her unwavering fan status. She expresses her continued connection with the players through her work. She recently met Smriti, Jemimah, and Shafali and plans to meet them again soon. Excitedly, she anticipates sharing her admiration for Harmanpreet Kaur, comparing her to the legendary MS Dhoni, or even better, her own unique brand of composure and poise.