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.
Record-Breaking Total Prize Pool – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
- Total Prize Pool: $13.88 million USD (approx. ₹123 crore INR)
- Biggest in Women’s Cricket History setting a new global standard.
- This move reflects a major step towards financial parity and recognition for women athletes.
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.
ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Prize Breakdown
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 |
Estimated Individual Earnings of Indian Players
| 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 |
Standout Performers
- Shafali Verma, who earned the Player of the Match title in the final, gained not only glory but also a major financial boost.
- Deepti Sharma, named Player of the Tournament, emerged as one of the highest-earning Indian women cricketers in history.
- Their performances symbolize the rise of women’s cricket icons who now command both admiration and substantial rewards.
| 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 |
Source:
Indian Batters Shine on the World Stage – Runs scored by Indian players
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.
Smriti Mandhana Leads the Charge
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 |
Source:BCCI
Bowlers Seal the Deal in a Tense Final
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 |
Source:wikipedia.org
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.
BCCI Annual Retainership Contracts for Women Cricketers (2024–25)
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.
Here’s how the structure looks:
- Grade A players earn an annual retainer of ₹50 lakh.
(This includes senior players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Deepti Sharma.) - Grade B players receive an annual salary of ₹30 lakh.
(Players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Renuka Singh fall under this category.) - Grade C players are paid an annual retainer of ₹10 lakh.
(This includes emerging and rotational squad members like Pooja Vastrakar and Radha Yadav.)
Brand Endorsements & Sponsorship Boom – ICC Women’s World Cup 2025
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.
Brand Endorsement Surge
- After India’s historic World Cup win, top players like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Shafali Verma became hot favourites for brands.
- Their endorsement fees jumped by 25%–100%.
- Jemimah Rodrigues could now earn ₹50 lakh a year from brand deals.
- Harmanpreet Kaur signed a new deal with Omaxe right after the win and already endorses Puma, HDFC Life, and CEAT Tyres.
This victory made India’s women cricketers true icons, not just athletes but national superstars.
Sponsorship Growth
- The 2025 World Cup saw record sponsorship and viewership:
- Unilever (through Rexona and Dove) became the first ICC sponsor dedicated only to women’s cricket.
- Ad spending rose by 50%
- The India vs Australia semifinal hit 4.8 million live viewers on Hotstar.
Brands saw the event as a huge opportunity to reach young, diverse, and energetic audiences across India.
Key Sponsors
| 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.
FAQs – ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (13th Edition)
1. What was the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025?
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.
2. When and where did the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 take place?
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.
3. How many teams participated in the 2025 Women’s World Cup?
Eight teams took part — India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
4. What format did the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 follow?
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.
5. What was the total prize money for the 2025 tournament?
The total prize pool stood at USD 13.88 million (around ₹123 crore), making it the richest Women’s Cricket World Cup in history.
6. Why was the 2025 edition considered special?
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.
7. Which venue hosted the final match?
The grand final took place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, creating unforgettable moments for fans around the world.
8. Where could fans watch the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 live?
Fans enjoyed live coverage on Star Sports and streaming on Disney+ Hotstar in India, with global broadcasts through ICC’s official partners.
9. How many matches were played in total?
A total of 31 matches were played – 28 league games, two semi-finals, and one grand final.
10. How did the 2025 World Cup impact women’s cricket globally?
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.
11. Who won the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 ?
India won the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
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