Bodies out of place? A reflexive autoethnographic account of women's cricket spectatorship in India

Women's cricket in India is increasingly celebrated as a symbol of national progress and gender inclusion, yet women's experiences as spectators remain underexamined. Drawing on postcolonial feminist theory and reflexive autoethnographic observations, this article presents a situated account of the ICC Women's World Cup match held in Navi Mumbai in October 2025. It examines how gender, affect, and the organisation of DY Patil Stadium shaped the author's experiences of spectatorship, drawing on observations and interactions across the shared spaces occupied by her companion and nearby spectators. Guided by Puwar's concept of ‘bodies out of place’, the article explores how women spectators were simultaneously visible and how their experiences of inclusion appeared to be negotiated within masculinised stadium environments. Drawing on contextualised observations, the article suggests that while women athletes are celebrated as symbols of national pride and progress, women cricketers and spectators may also experience forms of gendered surveillance, sexualisation, and infrastructural constraint. The study considers women's spectatorship not simply as a neutral backdrop to sport, but as a way of examining how gendered power relations may be experienced, negotiated, and at times challenged through women's visible and vocal participation. The article contributes to discussions on affective atmospheres, sound, and spatial organisation by offering a situated perspective that invites reflection on celebratory narratives that may equate growing women's cricket audiences with gender equity, while recognising the study's limited scope beyond this specific case.