Associate nations are increasingly competitive in women's T20 cricket. What does this suggest about how sport spreads globally, and what is India's role in it?

The UAE's opening pair of Esha Oza and Theertha Satish has scored 2,588 first-wicket runs. That makes them the third most productive opening pair in women's T20Is, ahead of most Full Member pairs [1]. This shows that sport spreads through access, a short format and structured pathways, not just through long tradition. India, cricket's largest market, has a key role in this spread.

What Associate competitiveness suggests about the global spread of sport

• Recognition lowers entry barriers: the ICC gave all Members' women's teams T20I status from 1 July 2018. This brought ranking points and regular fixtures to dozens of new nations [2].
• Short formats spread fastest: T20 is cheap and quick to play, so small boards can catch up within a few years. Oman also has a pair in the 20-innings comparison group [1].
• Structured pathways turn talent into results: the Women's T20 World Cup 2028 expands to 12 teams with a Global Qualifier. The pilot Emerging Nations Trophy has five Associate and five Full Members [3].
• Diaspora effect: Gulf Associates draw heavily on South Asian migrant talent, so migration carries the sport to new places.
• Gaps remain: a typical opening pair averages about 26 runs per dismissal at under 7 runs an over. India's openers manage 39.2 at 8.34 [1]. Competitiveness is growing but uneven.

India's role

• Setting the benchmark: Mandhana and Shafali have 4,080 runs in 107 innings, about 50% more than any other pair [1]. Their scoring speed sets the standard that emerging sides train to reach.
• Domestic inclusion model: Khelo India women's leagues (ASMITA) have raised the number of female athletes taking part in national events [5]. Associates with small talent pools could copy this model.
• Olympic push: India backed cricket's inclusion at LA 2028 [4]. Olympic status unlocks state funding for cricket in non-traditional countries.
• Way ahead: India can host more bilateral series against emerging sides, offer coaching and academy partnerships, and give overseas-player slots in the WPL to Associate cricketers.

Associate teams rising in women's T20 cricket shows that recognition, a short format and clear pathways can make a sport global. As the sport's leading power, India can help build a broad and fair global game through mentoring, hosting and Olympic advocacy. This would serve SDG 5 (gender equality) and the idea of sport as a tool of soft power.