On November 2, 2025, India’s women’s cricket team created history by winning the World Cup for the first time. While the win is big for every Indian, there is one important aspect to look at. The women’s cricket team not only lifted a trophy but also detonated an accelerant beneath a market that had only begun to simmer. The 52-run win over South Africa at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai came as a sporting apex– whether it be Shafali Verma scoring a high 87 runs, Deepti Sharma taking 5 wickets or a jam-packed stadium. But the aftershock is being measured not merely in applause, but in balance sheets, boardrooms, and brand strategies across India’s sports economy.
Let’s unpack the mechanics of this aftershock. What are the immediate economic ripple effects, the structural changes catalysed by the Women’s Premier League (WPL), brand playbooks from corporate early-movers, the ways women’s cricket is converging toward parity with the men’s game, and how investors, rights-holders, and marketers should position themselves for the next phase?
Economic ripple
A championship amplifies attention into two immediate monetizable factors– audience (broadcast & digital viewership) and consumer engagement (merchandise, fantasy, matchday revenues). Both saw exponential growth in the years leading up to the World Cup.
- The WPL’s trajectory shows the structural demand for women’s cricket. BARC measured over 100 million TV viewers within just the early matches of the following season. Digital platforms like JioHotstar and StarSports recorded extended viewing times and high engagement.
- Brands are noticing. Endorsements, partnerships and sponsorships for the women’s game are being reassessed. For example, the brand value of key players is expected to rise by up to 30-35%.
- The governing body, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), rewarded the team with ₹ 51 crore for the victory, which signals commercial value and institutional support.
- Brand activations went live almost immediately. From a washing detergent brand celebrating a cricketer’s muddy jersey to beverage companies amplifying local heroes, the market responded quite fast.
The win also sent ripples through media houses and OTT platforms. Journalists, commentators and content creators began dedicating more screen time and digital stories to women’s cricket. Social Media witnessed millions of new followers for players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Shafali Verma, and Smriti Mandhana. Reels on Instagram, short highlight videos, and memes became tools of storytelling. This organic engagement has encouraged streaming platforms to invest more in exclusive documentaries and mini-series around women’s sports journeys.
In the retail sector, merchandise sales shot up tremendously. Jerseys, caps, and collectable bats signed by women players started selling out within hours on e-commerce sites. Brands like Decathlon and Myntra reported record-high demand for women’s cricket merchandise, which clearly indicates that fandom is translating into purchasing power.
Structural changes
This win didn’t arrive out of nowhere. There’s been a structural build-up in women’s cricket in India and commercial infrastructure that’s ready to scale.
- Brands like Coca-Cola India took the lead as an ICC partner. Instead of just putting their logo on boundary hoardings, they launched a campaign called “Har Ghar Champion” that celebrates women cricketers from small towns.
- Puma, which already has strong partnerships with players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, rolled out a limited-edition “Chase Greatness” merchandise line during the tournament. The brand nailed it when it went to social media and told the world that cricket belongs to everyone.
- JSW Sports and Dream11 were the two brands that backed women’s cricket early through the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Moreover, state-level academics and regional boards are also catching up. After the World Cup, many states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand announced new women’s cricket academies with upgraded training facilities and equal pay for match fees. These policy-level changes indicate that the system is aligning itself with the business opportunity women’s cricket now represents.
Talent stories
With victory comes new icons, and those icons are proving to be both sporting heroes and brand assets.
- Shafali Verma’s performance (87 & two wickets in the final) made her stand out.
- Deepti Sharma’s power-packed performance across the entire tournament made her Player of the Tournament.
- The commercial impact of the victory is high. Endorsements for key players are expected to increase. Fees for players like Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana are anticipated to increase by up to 50% per deal.
- For instance, Surf Excel turned a viral jersey-dirt story into a campaign, “Don’t clean it. Frame it.” after a match-winning performance by Jemimah Rodrigues
- Another notable campaign came from Boost. The brand ran a Print ad that says, ‘You won our hearts. Thank you for inspiring a billion with your grit and stamina,’ and a video ad that says ‘There’s no boundary you can’t cross if you have the stamina. Watch me break the big, the bigger, the biggest of boundaries with boost’.
Comparative positioning
Historically, men’s cricket in India has dominated commercially. But the gap is narrowing, and the women’s game is charting its own path rather than simply copying.
What’s similar in Women’s and Men’s cricket is digital consumption, social media engagement, sponsorship models, player endorsements and franchising.
What’s different is creative freedom because women’s cricket is new commercially, thus brands can experiment with formats, narratives, and activations. Additionally, women’s sports carry additional brand-purpose layers like gender equity, empowerment and more, which can add value beyond pure metrics.
What are the market opportunities?
For brands, rights-holders and investors, now is the time to act. Brands that start supporting women’s cricket now will benefit the most as the sport keeps growing. Instead of short deals, brands should look for long-term partnerships that build real trust. Companies can create more content around the players, like fun videos, fan interactions, behind-the-scenes clips, and personal stories, to connect audiences emotionally with the players.
Beyond TV rights, brands can also earn through fantasy sports, online subscriptions, merchandise, and player-led experiences. Most importantly, linking their brand message with women’s cricket helps them stand for empowerment, equality, and inclusion, which connects them deeply with today’s audiences.
What 2025 win has unlocked?
First-ever Women’s World Cup title for India
Massive payout of ₹ 51 crore by the BCCI
A prolific surge in brand interest and player endorsement potential
Brands are doing rapid marketing activations
Media attention and fan engagement are turning into the future foundation of the sport
Where do we go from here?
Over the next five years, we can expect:
- Right deals for women’s cricket to grow significantly as the audience and brand pull strengthen.
- Expansion of women’s sport franchises, leagues and global tournaments.
- Rather than just sports endorsements, players can build cross-category brands in tech, lifestyle, finance and more.
The Final Word
India’s women’s team victory isn’t just a feel-good moment for all the Indians but also a strategic business inflexion.
Players performance → audience growth → brand investment → infrastructure scaling → culture change
It’s high time that a brand strategist, rights owner or investor treats women’s cricket not as a side bet but as a growth pillar. The game has arrived in India, and the market is opening up.
Must Read:
