The Man Behind the Women’s success: How Prof. Ratnakar Shetty Fought to Bring Women’s Cricket Under the BCCI Umbrella

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Can You Beat This? More than two decades ago, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wasn’t too keen on merging women’s cricket with the men’s setup. Instead of integration, the BCCI Working Committee had initially suggested extending only some financial aid to the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI).

But one man thought differently. Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, the former joint-secretary of BCCI, stood firm against the tide of resistance. He understood the long-term potential of women’s cricket and believed that true progress could only come through full integration with the BCCI. His conviction found strong backing from then BCCI President Sharad Pawar, and together, they steered Indian cricket toward a landmark reform.

By April 2006, the merger was finally approved — a historic decision that changed the course of women’s cricket in India. What began as a bold administrative move soon became a story of inspiration and national pride. Nearly two decades later, the women’s team has grown into a global force, making the country proud on the world stage.

Looking back at the journey, Prof. Shetty couldn’t hide his emotions. “I am so happy that you can’t even imagine. Our girls have really made us proud,” he told CricBlogger, recalling the unforgettable chapter that transformed the landscape of women’s cricket in India.

Some even argued that the merger of women’s cricket with the BCCI took place only because of a directive from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Yet, few can deny the pivotal role played by Prof. Ratnakar Shetty, who stood his ground with conviction and vision.

“I was extremely hopeful of a merger and really wanted the BCCI to take over women’s cricket. When it actually happened, I knew there wouldn’t be any looking back,” Prof. Shetty recalled.

He also acknowledged the contribution of Shubhangi Kulkarni, then secretary of the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI) and a former India player, who played a key role in shaping the journey of women’s cricket to where it stands today.

“Since the merger, every BCCI president has been deeply committed to making women’s cricket a success,” Prof. Shetty said. “That’s why the success story of women’s cricket cannot be attributed to a single individual. It has been a collective effort. I’ve written messages to several former cricketers who played a massive role in scripting a success story of this magnitude,” he added.

Even former India captain Diana Edulji played a significant role as an administrator in elevating women’s cricket to the next level. Serving on the Supreme Court–appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) under Vinod Rai, she helped shape crucial reforms that strengthened the women’s game in India.

“I was, in fact, invited for the final match but unfortunately couldn’t attend due to a family commitment. But my good wishes will always be with women’s cricket,” Prof. Shetty said before signing off, his voice filled with pride and emotion.

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