185 million: Women's World Cup 2025 sets new viewership records
What's the story
India's historic win at the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup has set new records for cricket broadcasting in India. The final, held on Sunday in Navi Mumbai, saw India clinch their first-ever ICC trophy after they beat South Africa by 52 runs. The match attracted an unprecedented viewership of 185 million on JioHotstar, matching that of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup final and surpassing the Indian Premier League's average daily reach.
Viewer statistics
Record-breaking viewership for women's cricket
According to JioStar, the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 reached a staggering 446 million viewers, a number that surpasses the combined viewership of the last three such tournaments on digital platforms. The final match alone drew a viewership high of 21 million. It also saw 92 million CTV viewers on JioHotstar. These numbers are comparable to those of Men's World Cup finals, marking a significant milestone in women's cricket viewership in India.
Industry perspective
Women's cricket now a reality, says JioStar CEO
Ishan Chatterjee, the JioStar CEO (Sports), said the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 has "reaffirmed women's cricket's growing stature in India." He credited the exceptional quality of play, especially by the Indian team, for driving record-breaking viewership and attracting a larger fan base than ever before. "This marks a significant shift for women's cricket — it is no longer just being watched but truly celebrated by millions," he added.
Path to victory
India's historic journey to the title
India's journey to their maiden Women's World Cup title was one of resilience and redemption. After a fine start, India's campaign faltered with three successive defeats in the group stage. However, they reached the semi-final after beating New Zealand in a must-win clash. In the semi-final, India pulled off a record-breaking chase of 339 against Australia. They banked on a historic ton by Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's gritty 89.
Final
How India won the final
The Indian cricket team made history by winning their first-ever global title in women's cricket. In the final against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, India set a strong total of 298/7, thanks to Shafali Verma's 87 and Deepti Sharma's 58. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh also contributed with important knocks. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt fought valiantly with a century, but Deepti (5/39) helped India secure a 52-run victory, marking their maiden World Cup title win.