Mandira Bedi: The Unseen Pillar Behind Indian Women’s Cricket
Mandira Bedi quietly supported India’s women cricketers during their toughest years by donating her earnings and pushing for sponsorship.
Mandira Bedi is an Indian actress, TV presenter, cricket host, fashion designer and wellness advocate. She rose to fame with the TV serial Box02 Shanti and later became a familiar face on cricket broadcasts and Box03 IPL coverage.
Long before women’s cricket in India had sponsors or media attention, Mandira quietly supported the team at a time when they were struggling for even basic resources. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Box0 Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI) faced severe financial problems. Players travelled in unreserved coaches, shared rooms, washed their kits and sometimes borrowed money to attend camps. Even air tickets for international tours were a burden.
Former cricketer Box05 Nutan Gavaskar, sister of Box06 Sunil Gavaskar, said the board had “no money for stays or tours.” WCAI selected the women’s team until 2006, when the Box07 BCCI finally took over. By then, Mandira was hosting Box08 ICC events and IPL coverage, becoming a known face in cricket broadcasting.
Mandira recalled feeling ignored by legends and dealing with self-doubt, often crying after live shows. Yet, she still chose to help the women’s team. After shooting a diamond jewellery advertisement, she donated her entire fee to WCAI. That money funded flight tickets for the women’s team for their Box09 England tour. She also reached out to companies for sponsorship and used her platform to highlight the lack of investment.
Her support came at a time when even small funds could save a tour. Two decades later, when India won the 2025 World Cup, her early contribution was remembered with respect. Mandira said the victory felt like the result of years of grit and growth. Today, as women’s cricket enjoys recognition and support, Mandira stands as one of its earliest and strongest believers.
