The 53-year-old Mandira Bedi is well known as an actress, television presenter and fashion designer. But most people do not know that it was she who put in selfless service for the cause of women cricket players and helped the game through its darkest days.

Few people know that women’s cricket began to be played in 1934 when a Test match was held between England and New Zealand. The first women’s ODI world cup was held in 1973 – two years before the first men’s ODI world cup. Seven countries took part in the first world cup which was won by England.

In the same year, 1973, the Women’s Cricket Association of India was formed. It had no connection with the BCCI. So funding was a huge hurdle. After the year 2000, Mandira Bedi quietly became the invisible sponsor of Indian women’s cricket.

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