Collective Newsroom (CNR) and the BBC have released key findings of a jointly commissioned study, which reveals encouraging momentum for women's sport in India.
The research on "Attitudes towards women's sports, sportswomen, and women in India" was done in collaboration with global research and insights company Kantar.
It is a part of Collective Newsroom's broader effort to deepen audience understanding and contribute meaningfully to conversations around women's sport in India.
Key findings: Progress, continuing barriers
The large-scale research suggests that women's participation in cricket has doubled across the 14 Indian states surveyed since 2020.
It finds that 26% of young women have considered sport as a career option.
The study further suggests wider changes, including a decisive positive shift in both participation and viewership. 51% of respondents followed coverage of women's sports in the past six months.
While the progress is significant, the research also highlights persistent barriers, including safety concerns, enduring stereotypes and lack of time, that continue to shape participation.
Rupa Jha, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Collective Newsroom, said: "The findings show both progress and continuing barriers. While participation and viewership are rising fast, stereotypes and practical challenges remain. We hope this data will prompt further discussion and action to support women athletes."
Tim Awford, Regional Director, South Asia, BBC News, said: "It is encouraging to see that more Indian women are playing, following and watching sport compared with 2020. The BBC is proud to help raise the profile of sportswomen across our platforms and remains committed to telling their stories."
The launch
The sport research was jointly released by CNR and BBC News at a conference in Delhi on 13 March.
Rajiv Shukla (BCCI Vice-President) and Deepti Sharma (Indian cricketer and all rounder), unveiled the research in the presence of Puneet Avasthi (Kantar South Asia, Director, Specialist Businesses), Arnab Dutta (Kantar India, Vice-President, Special Businesses), Anirban Chatterjee (FICCI, Director, Sports Committee), Neha Rastogi (Secretary, Sports Committee, FICCI), and Neetal Narang (President, Softball Association of India and Chair, Safeguarding Indian Olympic Association, Uttarakhand).
The event got detailed coverage in sections of the Indian media, including Outlook India, The Wire, The Economic Times, ABP News, PTI, ANI and more.
The study builds upon the findings of a survey administered by Kantar between December 2025 and January 2026.
Results were compared with a similar survey conducted in 2020 as part of the BBC's Indian Sportswoman of the Year (ISWOTY) initiative, which honours and celebrates Indian sportswomen's achievements.
BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2025
World Cup-winning cricketer Smriti Mandhana was named BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year for 2025 in an awards ceremony hosted by BBC News interim CEO Jonathan Munro in Delhi on 16 February.
The winner was selected by a distinguished grand jury comprising, Leander Paes, winner of 18 grand slams and Olympic medallist, Deepa Malik, a paralympic medal winner and former president of paralympic committee, and Anju Bobby George, the first Indian athlete to win medal at World Championships.
The ceremony also honoured three other trailblazing female athletes and celebrated "Star Performers" and "Changemakers" whose contributions continue to redefine the landscape of Indian sport.
Preethi Pal was named BBC Para Sportswoman of the Year after winning two medals at the 2025 World Championships. She previously won two bronze medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Shooter Anjali Bhagwat was honoured with the BBC ISWOTY Lifetime Achievement award, recognising her pioneering career as India's first woman shooter to reach an Olympic final and her trailblazing success on the world stage.
Chess champion Divya Deshmukh was named BBC Emerging Player of the Year after winning the Women's World Cup at the age of 20. Divya is just the fourth Indian woman to become a chess grandmaster.
Collective Newsroom manages and produces the annual BBC ISWOTY awards. This was CNR's second production for the BBC.