Mom-to-be Deepika Padukone Calls ICC’s New Maternity Policy a ‘Landmark Moment’ for Women in Sport

As she gets ready to welcome her second child with husband Ranveer Singh, actor Deepika Padukone has once again made headlines, but this time not for her personal milestones. The ‘Singham Again’ actress has praised the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) newly launched maternity return guidelines for women cricketers, calling the initiative a major step forward for female athletes around the world.

The actor, who has often spoken about work-life balance, mental well-being and support for working mothers, took to her Instagram handle on Tuesday and shared her appreciation for the ICC’s newly announced Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines for female cricketers. 

She reposted an announcement about the policy on her Instagram Stories and celebrated the move, describing the policy as a significant milestone for women in sport that aims to help women return to professional cricket safely and confidently after pregnancy.

Sharing the post, Deepika wrote, “A landmark moment for women in sport (multiple clapping emojis).” Her reaction quickly drew attention, especially as the actor herself is navigating motherhood while continuing her professional career.

Why the ICC’s New Maternity Policy Matters

The ICC’s new guidelines are being seen as one of the most comprehensive maternity support frameworks introduced in international sport.

Announced earlier this week, the policy provides cricket boards, coaches, medical teams and support staff with a structured roadmap to help players return to the game after childbirth.

The guidelines cover several important areas, including medical assessments during and after pregnancy, individual recovery and rehabilitation plans, gradual return-to-training programmes for the players, mental health and psychological support to all the players, and workload management after childbirth. 

The provisions do not just end here; the guidelines also offer flexible training schedules, support for new mothers travelling with infants, childcare assistance and family-friendly arrangements. The initiative aims to ensure that female cricketers do not have to choose between building a family and pursuing their careers at the highest level.

Women’s cricket has grown rapidly in recent years, due to increasing professionalism and global visibility. However, pregnancy and motherhood have often remained difficult challenges for athletes, owing to a lack of formal support systems. The ICC’s framework seeks to address that gap and create a more inclusive environment across international cricket.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah highlighted the importance of the move while announcing the guidelines. “The continued growth of women’s cricket must be built on opportunity, inclusion and care for our players at every stage of their lives and careers. No player should have to choose between motherhood and representing her country at the highest level. The ICC’s Return to Play Post-Pregnancy Guidelines are an important step in creating a more supportive and informed environment across the game. By providing Members with practical guidance, we want to ensure that female cricketers are supported through pregnancy and empowered to return to cricket with confidence,” he stated.

Deepika’s Support Fits With What She Has Been Advocating For

Deepika’s praise for the policy is consistent with issues she has spoken about over the past few years. The actor has repeatedly stressed the importance of healthy workplaces, mental well-being and better support systems for women balancing careers and family life.

The conversation became even more prominent last year when reports emerged that she had stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’. At the time, speculation suggested that she had sought structured working hours, including eight-hour shifts and profit-sharing arrangements.

Later, similar reports surfaced after announcements around ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ sequels, with claims that she had requested additional compensation for work extending beyond a seven-hour schedule as well as separate accommodation for her team.

While many of the reports remained speculative, the discussions sparked a wider debate about work-life balance in the entertainment industry.

On the Culture of Overwork

In November last year, Deepika explained why she believes eight-hour workdays should become the norm. She argued that society often glorifies exhaustion and mistakes burnout for commitment, “We’ve normalised overworking. We mistake burnout for commitment. Eight hours of work a day is enough for the human body and mind. Only when you’re healthy can you give your best. Bringing a burnt-out person back into the system helps no one.”

The actor also revealed that her own company follows structured work practices, “In my own office, we work eight hours a day, Monday to Friday. We have maternity and paternity policies. We should normalise bringing children to work.”

When discussing criticism surrounding her stance, Deepika defended her position during a conversation with Brut India, “I don’t think what I am asking for is ridiculously unfair and I think only someone who has worked in the system enough will know the conditions that we work in. And I am saying this, if I may say so myself, a top star, so you can only imagine what the working conditions must be like for everyone else, for the crew, for example.”

She later spoke about what she sees as a double standard when women raise such issues. “By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry, have been working for eight hours for years, and it’s never made headlines. A lot of them only work for eight hours Monday to Friday. They do not work on weekends.”

Preparing for Baby Number Two

The ICC policy announcement comes at a special time in Deepika’s personal life. Earlier this year, Deepika and Ranveer Singh announced that they are expecting their second child. The couple shared the news through a joint Instagram post featuring their daughter, Dua Padukone Singh, holding a positive pregnancy test.  Deepika captioned the post simply with evil-eye emojis.

The couple married in Italy in 2018 in ceremonies that celebrated both their Konkani and Sindhi traditions. They welcomed their first child, daughter Dua, on September 8, 2024.