The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 marked a turning point in the history of women’s cricket. Hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the tournament showcased record-breaking performances, packed stadiums, and a level of competition the world had never seen before.
In a dream run that inspired millions, India lifted their first-ever Women’s World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in a thrilling final at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. From Shafali Verma’s explosive batting to Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance, the tournament had everything skill, emotion, and history in the making.
This World Cup wasn’t just about cricket, it was about growth, recognition, and financial transformation in women’s sports. The 2025 edition truly signaled the beginning of a new era, one where women’s cricket commands global respect both on and off the field.
For the first time, cricket and commerce collided in women’s sports with record-breaking prize money, massive brand deals, and a global audience.
This World Cup marked the rise of financial power, media visibility, and cultural respect in women’s cricket proving that when investment meets talent, the results can change the game forever.
Women’s cricket is rewriting history
From a $3.5M USD pool in 2022 to a record $13.88M in 2025 .That’s a 297% surge in just one edition!
A clear sign that women’s cricket isn’t just growing ….it’s booming globally.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 features a record-breaking total prize pool of $13.88 million USD, setting a new benchmark for women’s sports globally. Here’s how the prize money is distributed across all stages:
| Stage | Team(s) | Prize Money (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Winners | 1 Team | $4.48 million |
| Runners-up | 1 Team | $2.24 million |
| Losing Semi-Finalists | 2 Teams | $1.12 million each |
| Teams finishing 5th and 6th | 2 Teams | $700,000 each |
| Teams finishing 7th and 8th | 2 Teams | $280,000 each |
| Group Stage Wins | All Participating Teams | $34,314 per win |
| Guaranteed Participation Payout | All Teams | $250,000 |
| Category | Estimated Earnings (₹) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Player (Including Stars like Shafali Verma & Deepti Sharma) | 2 – 3 crore | Includes ICC + BCCI rewards |
| Head Coach (Amol Muzumdar) | 2 – 3 crore | Parallel to senior players |
| Support Staff & Selectors | 20 – 30 lakh | Separate recognition from player pool |
| Total Team Pool (ICC + BCCI) | 90+ crore | Historic total combined earnings |
| Player | Role | Annual Contract Grade | Estimated Earnings (INR approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Captain | Grade A (₹50L) | ₹ 10 crore |
| Smriti Mandhana | Vice-captain | Grade A (₹50L) | ₹5-6 crore |
| Deepti Sharma | All-rounder | Grade A (₹50L) | ₹5-6 crore |
| Shafali Verma | Batter | Grade B (₹30L) | ₹5 crore |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | Batter | Grade B (₹30L) | ₹2-3 crore |
| Renuka Singh Thakur | Bowler | Grade B (₹30L) | ₹2- 3 crore |
| Richa Ghosh | Wicketkeeper | Grade B (₹30L) | ₹2- 3 crore |
| Pooja Vastrakar | All-rounder | Grade C (₹10L) | Approximately ₹1 – 1.5 crore |
| Radha Yadav | Bowler | Grade C (₹10L) | Approximately ₹1 – 1.5 crore |
| Arundhati Reddy | Bowler | Grade C (₹10L) | Approximately ₹1 – 1.5 crore |
| Others (Sajana S, Yastika Bhatia, Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil, Dayalan Hemalatha) | Various | Grade C or similar | ₹1 – 1.5 crore approx |
The Indian batting lineup lit up the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with consistent performances, fearless stroke play, and remarkable partnerships. Their collective brilliance powered India to its historic maiden World Cup triumph a moment that will be remembered for generations.
Elegant and composed, Smriti Mandhana was the heartbeat of India’s batting order. She ended the tournament as India’s highest run-scorer and the second-highest overall, proving once again why she’s one of the finest batters in world cricket.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 9 | 434 | 112 | 54.25 | 1 / 3 |
| Pratika Rawal | 9 | 308 | 85 | 38.50 | 0 / 3 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 9 | 292 | 92 | 41.71 | 0 / 2 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 9 | 258 | 78* | 43.00 | 0 / 2 |
| Shafali Verma | 9 | 245 | 87 | 27.22 | 0 / 1 |
| Deepti Sharma | 9 | 156 | 65 | 35.83 | 0 / 1 |
If the batters built the foundation, the bowlers ensured India finished as champions. In a nail-biting final against South Africa, the Indian bowling unit displayed nerves of steel, defending a competitive total with discipline and firepower.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deepti Sharma | 9.4 | 0 | 39 | 5 | 4.06 |
| Shree Charani | 10 | 1 | 45 | 2 | 4.50 |
| Renuka Singh | 8 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 6.50 |
| Pooja Vastrakar | 7 | 0 | 48 | 1 | 6.85 |
| Radha Yadav | 10 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 5.50 |
Deepti Sharma delivered a spell for the ages — a stunning five-wicket haul that ripped through South Africa’s middle order and turned the game decisively in India’s favor. Rising pacer Shree Charani complemented her perfectly with two crucial breakthroughs. Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar kept the pressure on, while Radha Yadav provided control in the middle overs.
In the end, India’s collective brilliance — with bat and ball — secured their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title, marking a golden chapter in the nation’s sporting history.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a major step toward equal pay and recognition for women cricketers. Under the 2024–25 central contracts, players are now categorized into Grade A, B, and C, with corresponding annual salaries.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 wasn’t just about winning matches, it was about changing the game for women’s cricket, both on and off the field.
This victory made India’s women cricketers true icons, not just athletes but national superstars.
Brands saw the event as a huge opportunity to reach young, diverse, and energetic audiences across India.
| Brand | Role |
|---|---|
| Apollo Tyres | Jersey Sponsor |
| Adidas | Kit & Apparel Partner |
| Technology Partner | |
| Rexona (HUL) | Event Sponsor |
These campaigns focused on women’s power, excellence, and inspiration, giving players a bigger stage than ever before.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 was the 13th edition of the global women’s ODI tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It brought together the top eight teams in women’s cricket to compete for the world title.
The tournament took place from 30 September to 2 November 2025 across India and Sri Lanka, with matches hosted in Bengaluru, Indore, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Colombo.
Eight teams took part — India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Each team faced every other team once in the round-robin stage. The top four qualified for the semi-finals, leading to a thrilling final on 2 November 2025.
The total prize pool stood at USD 13.88 million (around ₹123 crore), making it the richest Women’s Cricket World Cup in history.
It marked a turning point for women’s cricket with record prize money, massive fan engagement across Asia, and the highest viewership ever recorded for a women’s sporting event.
The grand final took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, creating unforgettable moments for fans around the world.
Fans enjoyed live coverage on Star Sports and streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India, with global broadcasts through ICC’s official partners.
A total of 31 matches were played – 28 league games, two semi-finals, and one grand final.
The tournament elevated women’s cricket to new heights by boosting investment, inspiring young players, and proving that women’s cricket can draw huge audiences worldwide.
India won the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
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