The massive surge in the popularity of women's cricket was undeniably highlighted by the viewership numbers for the recent World Cup final. The historic match, where Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. clinched India's maiden ODI World Cup title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs, garnered extraordinary attention. According to a press release, the final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 attracted a staggering 185 million viewers, matching the viewership of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final, where Rohit Sharma and Co. also emerged victorious against South Africa.
Women’s World Cup 2025 final matches record-breaking T20 WC viewership
This equal viewership figure powerfully suggests that, in the wake of the World Cup 2025 final, Women's Cricket has achieved a level of parity with Men's Cricket in terms of audience appeal. The impressive reach extended beyond the final match itself: the entire tournament's digital reach hit 446 million, which is reported to exceed the combined total for the last three ICC Women’s World Cups. Additionally, a peak of 21 million viewers were reportedly tuned in at the precise moment the India women's cricket team lifted their historic maiden ODI World Cup trophy on November 2.
“The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 has reaffirmed the growing stature of women’s cricket in India. The exceptional quality of cricket on display, especially the Indian team’s incredible performance, has driven record-breaking viewership and attracted a larger, more passionate fan base than ever before. This marks an important shift for women’s cricket, it is no longer just being watched; it is being celebrated by millions,” the CEO of Sports- JioHotstar Ishan Chatterjee said.
Talking about India's World Cup campaign, they started strong, winning their first two games, but were then put on the backfoot by suffering three consecutive defeats against formidable opponents: Australia (AUS), South Africa (SA), and England (ENG). Showing determination, the team managed to bounce back with a crucial victory against New Zealand, although their momentum was slightly stalled when their subsequent match against Bangladesh resulted in a wash-out tie.
India's Women's ODI World Cup 2025 title win ends 52-year-long drought
The Indian side carried their renewed resolve into the elimination rounds, where they delivered a historic performance. In the semi-finals, India faced the defending champions, the formidable Australian team, and successfully knocked them out with an impressive five-wicket victory. This crucial momentum carried them into the final, where they ultimately defeated South Africa to create history by clinching their maiden Women's World Cup title, ending their 52-year-long drought.