Hi there! Welcome to Episode 297 of Never on the Backfoot Podcast. This episode takes a deep dive into the current state of the women’s game in India. From the BCCI’s recently announced central contracts to the surprising venue choices for the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, and the decision to stall WPL expansion, we break down what each of these developments really means. Is equal pay just about match fees, or should equity be about the full picture—contracts, infrastructure, and investment? Are World Cup venues like Mullanpur and Raipur truly geared for a global event, or does this reflect missed ambition? And why is the WPL, despite its early success, being kept from growing? Join us for a sharp, no-nonsense conversation on the decisions that are quietly shaping the future of women’s cricket in India. On the podcast today for this discussion, we have Prathik Desai joining us. He is a chartered accountant/finance guy who now writes crypto for a living and has grown up from worshipping cricket to critiquing it in the past two decades. The podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Spotify for Podcasters and many other platforms and spread the word. Do check out @neveronthebackfoot on Instagram and Threads and @neverontheback1 on Twitter (now called X) for the latest facts, updates, fresh content and a lot more coming up this cricket season. Never on the Backfoot is also on YouTube so don’t forget to subscribe to the channel and stay tuned for a lot of insightful content coming up there as well. Until next time, stay safe and take care, listeners. Bye for now.