India Eyes Glory as Women’s Cricket Reaches Pivotal Moment Ahead of 2025 World Cup

30 Sep, 2025 | 03:59 PM

On a quiet Thursday afternoon on the outskirts of Bengaluru, a small but eager group of cricket enthusiasts gathered outside the BCCI's Centre of Excellence, attempting to catch a glimpse of the Indian and England women's teams preparing for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Though the warm-up game was behind closed doors, it didn’t stop fans from climbing trees and lingering around the facility — a telling sign of the growing interest in women's cricket in India.

This scene would have been unthinkable just a decade ago. The rise in curiosity, visibility, and passion surrounding the women’s game reflects a profound transformation — one that has been shaped by years of persistence, landmark performances, and relentless advocacy.

At the heart of this transformation are two trailblazers: Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana.

From Derby to Delhi: The Turning Point

The shift began in 2017, on another rainy Thursday in Derby, when Harmanpreet Kaur's iconic 171* against Australia in the World Cup semi-final stunned the cricketing world and catapulted the Indian women’s team into the national spotlight. The audacious knock not only led India to a memorable win but also broke open the door to a new era for women’s sport in the country.

That moment proved to be a cultural catalyst. Indian fans filled Lord’s in the final days later, and three years on, 86,000 people packed the MCG for the T20 World Cup final in 2020 — setting a global attendance record for a women’s sporting event. Even when India didn’t feature in finals, as in the 2023 World Cup in Cape Town, the sold-out signs outside venues showed a sport that was no longer niche.

Back home, the momentum only built further. In Mumbai, thousands turned up initially lured by affordable tickets — jokingly dubbed “cheaper than AP Dhillon concerts” — but stayed for the cricket, with Harmanpreet once again the crowd-puller.

Leading a Revolution

While Harmanpreet ignited the flame with power and passion, Smriti Mandhana brought elegance and star power. A two-time ICC Cricketer of the Year, Mandhana became one of the most recognisable faces in Indian sport, showing young girls that cricket could be a viable career path.

Together, the duo led a revolution. From more televised matches to prime-time slots, India’s women cricketers gradually claimed space that had long been denied. Their growing influence saw the BCCI commit to top-tier venues for women’s games, increased international tours, and eventually a landmark equal pay structure for international matches in 2023.

Perhaps the most significant development came in 2023 with the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). The league not only provided Indian players with professional opportunities and financial stability but also became a platform to discover and develop new talent — several of whom are now poised to represent the country in the 2025 World Cup.

2025: A Defining Home World Cup

The upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, to be hosted in India, presents a rare, once-in-a-generation opportunity — both for the team and the sport.

A win on home soil would mean far more than just a trophy. It could catalyse long-term investment in grassroots development, justify parity in match fees and contracts, and open up iconic stadiums — traditionally reserved for men’s events — to the women’s game.

More significantly, it would give a new generation of young girls a moment of national pride to aspire to — something many in the past never had.

From Promise to Prominence

Harmanpreet and Mandhana have already reshaped Indian cricket. But lifting the World Cup at home would be the crowning achievement of their legacy — a definitive moment that cements India’s status as a force in women’s cricket and accelerates the journey toward true gender inclusivity in the sport.

Their journey, which began in relative obscurity, now stands under the spotlight. The stage is set. The crowd is ready. And India is dreaming.