Women's Cricket Participation Doubles to 16 Percent in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD — Women's sports participation has experienced a sharp increase in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh since 2020, with cricket participation doubling and badminton participation tripling, according to a new survey discussed on Wednesday.

The large-scale study, which was commissioned by the BBC and Collective Newsroom, was conducted by Kantar across 14 states in India. The findings highlight a significant shift in athletic engagement among women, particularly in the Telugu-speaking states.

In Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the proportion of women who participate in cricket has doubled, rising from 8 percent in 2020 to 16 percent. This local trend mirrors a broader national increase, where women's cricket participation across India doubled from 5 percent in 2020 to 10 percent in 2026. Among young Indian women aged 15 to 24, cricket participation grew even more sharply, rising from 6 percent to 16 percent over the same period.

In addition to cricket, badminton has witnessed substantial growth in the region. The survey revealed that the proportion of women playing badminton in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has tripled since 2020, climbing from 3 percent to 9 percent.

Overall, the study found that nearly 39 percent of women in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh now report participating in at least one sporting activity.

The survey results were discussed during a panel event on Wednesday. Speaking at the discussion, AP Jithender Reddy, who serves as the advisor to the Telangana government on sports affairs and is also the president of the Telangana Olympic Association, stated that the state government is giving high priority to sports.