Did Mithali Raj Just Usher in a New Era for Women’s Cricket with Record-Breaking Viewership?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Record viewership of 185 million for Women’s World Cup final.
- First team from the subcontinent to win the Women’s World Cup.
- India’s win marks a historic moment in women’s cricket.
- Future Women’s ODI World Cup to feature 10 teams, enhancing competition.
- Strong support for women’s sports is evident through attendance and viewership.
New Delhi, Nov 8 (NationPress) The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final has achieved a groundbreaking viewership milestone, heralding a transformative era for women’s cricket. Former Indian cricketer Mithali Raj conveyed her pride, calling it ‘an exhilarating new chapter’ for the sport.
JioHotstar reported that the championship match attracted an astonishing 185 million users on its app, equating the viewership level of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final. Additionally, 92 million viewers tuned in via Connected TV (CTV), matching the CTV numbers from both the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 Final and the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup Final.
Moreover, Harmanpreet Kaur’s final catch to clinch the match peaked at 21 million viewers.
“The figures reflect belief, progress, and pride! 185 million fans watched the 2025 Women’s World Cup Final in India, paralleling the viewership of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup Final. I am thankful to @ICC and @JayShah Sir for their leadership and commitment to elevating the tournament. This is just the beginning of an exhilarating new phase for women’s cricket,” Raj shared on X.
With a packed audience at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, India became the first team from the subcontinent and the fourth globally to claim the Women’s World Cup trophy.
The home team triumphed over a formidable South African squad by 52 runs in the final, marking their inaugural win in any ICC tournament final, having made their third appearance in the history of the 50-over tournament.
Furthermore, the international cricket governing body confirmed that the subsequent edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup, scheduled for 2029, will include 10 teams, indicating a significant expansion in the tournament’s scope and global outreach. This decision, ratified by the ICC during its meeting in Dubai on Friday, aims to create more opportunities for emerging nations and enhance the competitive framework of women’s cricket worldwide.
“The ICC has reiterated its dedication to the advancement of women’s cricket and celebrated the success of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India as a testament to its enduring belief in the women’s game. Almost 300,000 fans attended the event, setting a new record for tournament attendance at any women’s cricket event.”
“The tournament also saw a surge in viewership and established new records for on-screen audiences globally, with nearly 500 million viewers in India. The ICC board, eager to build on the event’s success, has agreed to expand the next edition of the tournament to 10 teams (up from 8 teams in 2025),” stated the ICC in their announcement.