The Rise of Women's Cricket in India: Breaking Stereotypes and Setting Records

The landscape of women's cricket in India is undergoing a significant transformation, challenging long-held stereotypes and achieving remarkable milestones. With the introduction of the Women's Premier League (WPL) and the success of the national team in international tournaments, interest in women's cricket has surged. Recent statistics reveal that women's tournaments are now attracting more viewers and commercial interest than ever before. This article delves into the history, struggles, and triumphs of women's cricket in India, highlighting key events that have shaped its current success and the growing recognition of female athletes in the sport. Discover how women's cricket is not just catching up with the men's game but is also setting new records and inspiring future generations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 24, 2025, 10:19 IST

Challenging Stereotypes in Women's Cricket

The prevailing stereotype suggests that women's cricket is overshadowed by the men's game and lacks commercial viability. However, this perspective is becoming increasingly outdated. Recent data indicates that during women's tournaments such as the WPL and Women's World Cup, betting volumes have surpassed those of major men's events, including matches like India vs Bangladesh and the English Premier League.

A Challenging Journey: The Evolution of Women's Cricket in India

History of Struggles: How Indian Women Broke Through in Cricket

The journey of women's cricket in India has been fraught with challenges. The inaugural matches took place in the 1970s, but they lacked support from the cricket federation, television coverage, and audience engagement.

A significant shift occurred in 2017 when the Indian women's team reached the World Cup final, losing in a nail-biting match. This defeat sparked a newfound belief in the potential of women's cricket within Indian society.

In 2020, the team made another remarkable achievement by reaching the T20 World Cup final, further solidifying their status as national icons. The viewership for women's matches in India surged by 2.45 times during this period.

Additionally, the Women's Asia Cup, which has been held since 2004, is a crucial regional tournament. As of 2024, India has won 7 out of 9 editions, making them the most successful team in the tournament's history.

The Impact of the Women's Premier League

WPL – A Historic Turning Point

In 2023, the BCCI introduced the Women's Premier League (WPL), a well-structured league featuring franchises, drafts, television rights, and advertising. By 2024, the WPL attracted over 103 million viewers, with the final match drawing more than 30,000 fans to the stadium.

The numbers continued to rise in 2025, with Jay Shah reporting that over 30 million viewers tuned in for the opening match, leading to a 150% increase in TV ratings and a 70% growth in the digital audience. The JioStar platform recorded:

142% growth in linear TV audience
Twice as many views on CTV compared to 2024
Total reach of 300 million viewers

The WPL has officially become the second-most valuable women's league globally, following the US WNBA.

Women's Cricket Gaining Ground

Women's Cricket Catching Up with Men's Game

According to Kantar's India in Search study, interest in women's cricket in India surged by 103% over the past year, with 223 million monthly searches indicating its growing influence.

The 2020 WT20 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground attracted 86,000 fans, nearly matching the attendance of the men's final at the same venue. In India, the final garnered 9.02 million TV viewers, accumulating a total watch time of 5.4 billion minutes.

In 2023, the Women's T20 World Cup set a new global record with 192 million hours watched worldwide, a 44% increase from 2020. In India, the ICC reported 105 million TV viewers for the tournament, although still trailing behind the men's T20 WC 2022, which reached 167 million viewers in India. However, the growth rates are noteworthy.

The 2022 Women's ODI World Cup achieved 1.64 billion video views on ICC digital platforms, marking the highest digital engagement among all women's tournaments and ranking third overall among ICC tournaments, following the men's ODI WC 2019 and T20 WC 2021.

Commercially, women's cricket has yet to reach the financial heights of men's cricket. Media rights for the men's IPL are valued at $6.2 billion, while WPL rights are set at $116 million for five years (Viacom18). Nevertheless, the growth is unprecedented: in 2025, the WPL attracted 70 brands across 45 categories, a 40% increase from 2023.

Support for Women's Cricket

1xBet on Support

While some still perceive women's sports as a niche, the WPL and Women's World Cup are already surpassing certain men's tournaments in viewership, betting, and commercial growth.

1xBet is committed to supporting this progress by providing a platform where women's cricket can gain visibility and recognition. To promote the ICC Women's 2025 Cricket World Cup, starting on September 30, the company will launch the World Cup Queens 2025 cricket tournament, offering participants a chance to win Apple MacBook Pro 16” M4 laptops, Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max smartphones, Apple Watch Series 10 smartwatches, and other gadgets.

“We believe that women's cricket in India has surpassed the 'potential' phase – female cricketers have consistently demonstrated their prowess. This is why we named our campaign World Cup Queens 2025. It’s not just about the championship; it’s about acknowledging that Indian players have already established themselves as queens of cricket. We are confident they will reaffirm their dominance on the global stage this year,” stated the 1xBet press service.

About 1xBet

About 1xBet

1xBet is a well-known bookmaker with 18 years of experience in the betting industry. Customers can place bets on thousands of sporting events, with the company's website and app available in 70 languages. 1xBet's official partners include FC Barcelona, LOSC Lille, La Liga, Serie A, European Cricket Network, Durban’s Super Giants, and other prominent sports brands and organizations. In India, the company's ambassadors include renowned cricketer Heinrich Klaasen and actress Urvashi Rautela. 1xBet has received multiple nominations and awards from prestigious organizations such as IGA, SBC, G2E Asia, and EGR Nordics Awards.