Sudha Shah, a pioneering figure in Indian women's cricket, has recalled the extraordinary atmosphere surrounding India's first women's Test match, played against the West Indies in Bengaluru on 31 October 1976 — exactly 50 years ago. Speaking on the golden anniversary of that landmark fixture, Shah described how the series culminated in scenes of mass adulation that the players had never anticipated, most memorably in Patna, where crowds lined the roads to cheer a winning team.

The Patna Moment That Defined a Generation

It was the Test match in Patna — which India won — that left the deepest impression on Shah. 'In Patna, the thing I remember most about the Test we won is the crowd. Every day, there was a crowd of nearly 20,000 to 30,000. After we won, they lined up on either side of the road, and when our bus went to where we were staying, it was like we were superstars. We had never even dreamt of experiencing something like that,' she said.

The celebrations inside the dressing room were equally euphoric. 'We had to wave to the crowd from the balcony because they just weren't leaving. All of us were screaming and jumping around, and Sharmila Chakraborty broke the basin in the dressing room bathroom! We just couldn't believe that we had won a Test match,' Shah added.

A 15-Year Career Built on Love for the Game

That historic series launched a 15-year international career for Shah, who went on to play 21 official Tests — amassing 601 runs and taking five wickets — alongside 13 ODIs. Her 21 consecutive Test appearances remain the second-most in women's cricket. She noted that many of the matches her generation played were later classified as unofficial. 'Out of 35, only 21 are official. But believe me, we took it in our stride,' she said.

The era was defined by financial hardship and scarce facilities. 'It gives a lot of satisfaction that we did pursue cricket at that time despite all the difficulties we faced, be it on the field or off the field,' she reflected. 'We did toil, and to see the game where it is today gives you the satisfaction that what we did at that time hasn't gone in vain.'

BCCI's Role in Transforming Women's Cricket

Shah credited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which took over the women's game in 2006 and subsequently introduced equal match fees, with turning cricket into a viable career path for women. 'If you had told me 50 years ago that girls would be making cricket a career, I wouldn't have believed it. At that time, we played purely for the love of the game. Credit goes to the BCCI,' she said.

The board recognised Shah's contributions with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018. 'It is a great honour. To be acknowledged for the years we put in validates the fact that our early efforts laid a strong foundation for the game,' she said.

From 2005 World Cup Final to 2025 Trophy Win

As head coach, Shah guided India to their first Women's World Cup final in 2005 — a remarkable achievement given the limited resources available. 'When we won the semi-final, we celebrated as if we had won the World Cup,' she recalled. India lost that final, but the wait for the trophy ended on 2 November 2025, at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai — and Shah nearly missed it.

After voting in her local cricket association's elections, she rushed to the airport and arrived at the ground just as rain had delayed the start. 'When I entered DY Patil through the gate, I could hear the national anthem being played, and I said, 'Today's my day',' she recounted. When India won, captain Harmanpreet Kaur — who had made her India debut under Shah as coach — personally handed her the trophy. 'When she gave me that trophy, I thought, 'Boy, I never ever dreamt that I would hold it.' The only regret I had was that I was so excited that I didn't have the presence of mind to get a photograph taken!'

The Road Ahead: WPL, Tests, and the 2027 Champions Trophy

Shah also praised India's Test win over England at Lord's in 2026, saying it demonstrated the character of the current generation. 'Test cricket really tests the character of a cricketer. We lived on Test cricket. I think the girls should be playing more Test matches,' she said.

She highlighted the Women's Premier League (WPL) as a catalyst for domestic growth, arguing that sharing dressing rooms with overseas players had made Indian women 'play much more fearless cricket.' With India set to host the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in 2027, Shah said televised home tournaments were drawing far more girls to the sport. 'There are thousands of girls coming to play, and that is a massive boost,' she concluded.