Ms Diana Edulji’s illustrious career was marked by several historic firsts. She was the first captain of the Indian Women’s ODI team and the first to lead India in a World Cup. She became the first Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in women’s international cricket and remains the only bowler to have delivered more than 5,000 balls in Women’s Tests. She was also the first Indian woman cricketer to receive the prestigious Padma Shri and the first Indian woman to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

There is another historic first that Ms Edulji shares with 10 of her former teammates: being part of the team that embarked on a glorious journey. On 31 October 2026, Indian women’s cricket celebrates the 50th anniversary of the team’s first-ever official international match.

“This was the beginning, and the journey has been wonderful. I can’t believe that 50 years is already around the corner, and I’m very happy that we will be able to see this day,” Ms Edulji told BCCI.tv with a smile.

The first of the six-Test series between India and West Indies began on 31 October 1976 in Bangalore, marking a momentous occasion in Indian cricket history. Team India was led by Ms Shanta Rangaswamy. For Ms Edulji, the occasion was made even more special by the opportunity to feature in the Playing XI alongside her sister, Ms Behroze Edulji. She still vividly remembers the series, particularly the warmth and enthusiasm of the crowds in Bangalore and at the other venues, especially Patna.

The series marked not only Team India’s first international contest but also its first-ever victory in international cricket. India secured the win in the fourth Test in Patna, with Ms Edulji herself scoring the winning runs.

“The most pleasurable moment for me was hitting the winning run in the Test match we won in Patna,” the Team India great recalled. “We had a good crowd, which was something we could not believe. About 30,000 to 35,000 people were in that stadium.”

“When the crowd erupted after the victory, it was something we had seen only in men’s cricket. People ran onto the ground, and we were completely surrounded. We were so overwhelmed, but it was such a great feeling. In fact, I lost my bat and gloves; they were simply snatched away, but it was worth it. I can still picture that experience. Even after 50 years, that memory remains fixed in my mind,” she added, while also highlighting the contribution of India great Lala Amarnath, who coached the women’s team at the time.

The historic victory came against a high-quality West Indies side at a time when Caribbean cricket was a dominant force in the game.

“You won’t believe it. Because we were not used to that pace, we didn’t have a very firm grip on the bat, and when they bowled, the bat would fly out of our hands. That’s when we realised that Indian cricket had a lot of catching up to do to match the standards of other teams,” Ms Edulji recalled.

Indian women’s cricket certainly caught up. The journey has featured appearances in multiple World Cup finals, a Commonwealth Games silver medal, back-to-back Asian Games gold medals, eight Asia Cup titles and a historic victory in the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s, among several other milestones. It reached its biggest milestone yet when India won the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, defeating South Africa before a rousing crowd at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on 2 November 2025. The triumph came just two days after the anniversary of the team’s international debut.

Among those present was an emotional Ms Edulji, one of the pioneers who helped lay the foundation for this dream.

“It was a great, great feeling,” the former India captain said. “I was so happy to be watching it live. I was at the stadium, and this was the dream we had, because that was the only trophy missing from the cabinet. The BCCI, after doing so much for women cricketers, deserved this trophy.”

“The icing on the cake was definitely winning the World Cup. Once we won, it was absolutely nostalgic for me. After 50 years, to see it happen live in front of me was like a dream come true.”

Ms Edulji believes India’s run to the final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017, despite ending in defeat, marked a major turning point for women’s cricket in the country.

“All of them became household names during that time. Lord’s was packed, and the match was watched by people all over the world,” she said. “The Prime Minister of India invited a team that had lost the final to his residence for high tea. That showed that this team had arrived, and women’s cricket really moved forward.”

The Padma Shri awardee also credited current ICC Chairman and former BCCI Honorary Secretary Mr Jay Shah for his significant contribution to the growth of women’s cricket in India, including the introduction of pay parity and the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

“Mr Jay Shah’s vision has helped women’s cricket prosper a lot,” she said. “Undoubtedly, he has made a significant contribution as BCCI Secretary and, even more so, as ICC Chairman. He has taken the game to the global stage. He has helped bring cricket into the Olympics, which is something we would never have dreamt of.”

“We did our bit as members of the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to help women cricketers become more equal and give them the benefits that men were receiving. We then handed it over to Mr Jay Shah, who took it forward. He ensured that the WPL was launched, and I think that was another turning point for women’s cricket.”

She also welcomed the introduction of the ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, with the inaugural edition scheduled to be held in India in February 2027.

“Now, with the Champions Trophy coming in, you can see how the game is expanding, and that is largely due to the ICC’s genuine commitment to promoting women’s cricket. We have had people promoting the game before, but not at this level. So, hats off to Mr Jay Shah and his team at the ICC, and to the BCCI as well.”

As she reflected on these turning points, Ms Edulji also looked back at the early days, when infrastructure and resources were major challenges. Yet, despite the difficulties, neither she nor her teammates ever considered giving up.

“We went through what I would describe as a complete overhaul. We went through the rigmarole. You name it, and we faced it. It was that difficult, but not once did we ever think, ‘No, let’s stop.’ Never,” she said.

It is this fighting spirit, tenacity and commitment to growing the game that have set a shining example for future generations of women cricketers in India. These qualities were also reflected in the tributes paid by India’s World Cup-winning team to the pioneers who paved the way.

“It was very good to see the current team recognising our performances and our dedication, and acknowledging the foundation we laid,” Ms Edulji said.

As Indian women’s cricket celebrates this golden jubilee, Ms Edulji summed up the incredible journey with words that capture the progress made over five decades.

“We made sure that we played, whatever the conditions. And today, I think, through the foundation we laid, the building has come up beautifully.”

- By Aayush Majumdar