Meghna Singh Exclusive Interview: Players on the Indian cricket team initially received very low salaries. Meghna Singh, who began her career with a match fee of 1,000 rupees, revealed the truth about women's cricket.
Meghna Singh reveals the truth about women's cricket
Meghna Singh With ABP Live: Every cricketer dreams of playing for Team India, not just holding a bat and ball in their hands. But only a few players are able to turn this dream into reality. Indian cricketer Meghna Singh is one of those players who, as soon as she held a ball in her hands, decided that one day she would play for India. This dream came true with her first match against Australia in 2021.
For Meghna Singh, the joy of playing for India is so immense that it's beyond words. In an exclusive interview with ABP Live, Indian cricketer Meghna Singh discussed every aspect of the world of women's cricket. From women's entry into cricket to their salaries, let's explore the changes that have taken place today through this conversation with Meghna Singh.
Had to play cricket with the boys
Indian cricketer Meghna Singh told ABP Live, "My father was also fond of playing cricket. As a child, I used to go to matches with my father on his bicycle. When I saw boys playing in the street, I felt the urge to play cricket too. Seeing my father and the rest of the family playing cricket, I later made it my career." Initially, Meghna had to play cricket with boys because no other girl played cricket and Meghna Singh did not like the games played by girls.
How much salary did you get for playing your first match?
Meghna Singh, a resident of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, first made it to the state team's top 40 players' list. Subsequently, in 2010, Meghna was selected for the Indian Under-19 team. When asked how much Indian players were paid for playing a match at the time, the Indian cricketer said, "When I played my first match for the Under-19 team, I was paid a match fee of ₹1,000."
Journey from 1 thousand to 1 lakh
Indian pacer Meghna Singh revealed in an interview that when she started playing for the Indian Under-19 team, she used to get a fee of Rs 1,000 per match and only got to play 4 or 5 matches in a year. However, as time changed, women in Indian cricket started getting better match fees, and many league matches also started. When Meghna started her international cricketing career with an ODI match against Australia in September 2021, she received a match fee of Rs 1 lakh for playing an ODI.
Team India's victory changed the story.
The Indian women's cricket team recently won the Women's World Cup 2025. India's victory was celebrated across the country. The women's team made history by winning the World Cup. Meghna Singh was asked what changes have been seen since India's victory. In response, Meghna said, "Immediately after India's victory, admissions to cricket academies have increased, mostly for girls. India's victory in the World Cup has opened doors for many."
Inspired by Zaheer Khan
Meghna Singh shared that cricket is not only watched but also played in her home. As such, she has been involved with cricket since her childhood. She has been a fan of legendary Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan since her childhood. Meghna said, "Zaheer Khan has always been my inspiration in cricket. Watching my father inspired me to play cricket, but whenever I watched cricket as a child, I would follow Zaheer Khan. I am a fast bowler myself, so I have always watched him." Meghna also mentioned that former Indian captain Rohit Sharma is also her favorite player.
Which team will Meghna Singh play for in WPL?
The new season of the Women's Premier League (WPL 2026) is about to begin. Meghna Singh has played for the Gujarat Giants in the last two WPL seasons. When asked which team she would like to play for this time, the Indian player replied, "My favorite team in the WPL is the Delhi Capitals because they have some great players." However, Meghna added, "I will give my best performance for whichever team selects me."
