It’s Official: Women’s Cricket Is a Goldmine, and Big Brands Are Rushing In
Forget everything you thought you knew. Women’s cricket isn’t just on the rise; it’s exploding into a mainstream powerhouse, and the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is ground zero for this massive shift. Big money is flowing in, and top-tier brands like Google and State Bank of India (SBI) are placing huge bets on its success. This isn’t a niche sport anymore. It’s a national conversation.
Key Takeaways
- Sponsorship and ad rates for women’s cricket have jumped by 10-15% compared to 2022.
- Major brands like Google (Gemini, Pay, Android, Pixel), SBI, and Rexona are advertising heavily during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
- JioStar’s Chief Revenue Officer, Anup Govindan, confirms women’s cricket is now attracting mainstream and premium brands.
- The tournament’s timing, overlapping with India’s festive season, has created a perfect storm for advertisers.
The Money Game Just Changed
Look, the numbers don’t lie. We’re seeing a 10-15% increase in sponsorship and advertising rates for women’s cricket tournaments compared to the 2022 edition. That’s a serious jump. And it’s not just small companies testing the waters. We’re talking about giants. Google is all in, pushing its entire suite—Gemini, Pay, Android, and Pixel. You’ve also got SBI and the International Gemological Institute (IGI) spending big.
But honestly, the biggest signal is the long-term commitment. Unilever’s Rexona has signed global women-specific deals with the ICC that run all the way through 2027. You don’t make multi-year deals like that unless you’re confident you’re backing a winner. This is a deliberate, strategic investment.
Expert Analysis: A Mainstream Revolution
So, what’s actually happening here? According to Anup Govindan, JioStar’s Chief Revenue Officer of Sports, this is a fundamental transformation. He stated on October 14, 2025, that women’s cricket has officially shifted from a niche property to a “mainstream national conversation.” It’s now a top priority for broadcasters like JioStar, who see massive potential for growth and monetization, especially with properties like the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Nielsen’s 2025 sports outlook backs this up completely. It identifies women’s leagues as one of the strongest growth engines in the entire sports sector. Why? Because the audience and sponsor interest are gaining ground at an incredible pace. The media coverage for women’s sports has nearly tripled since 2019. It’s a rocket ship that’s just taken off.
What This Means for the Future
This isn’t just a flash in the pan. The growth is staggering. Revenues from women’s sports are expanding about 4.5 times faster than men’s competitions. While it’s still a smaller piece of the pie, representing less than 2% of the total US sports market, its acceleration is what’s turning heads.
And the projections are wild. McKinsey believes that by 2030, revenues for rights-holders in U.S. women’s sports could hit around USD 2.5 billion. That’s more than double what they are now. The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, running from September 30 to November 2, is proving to be the catalyst that cements this new reality.
So, as you’re watching the World Cup, pay attention to the ads. They tell a story of a sport that has finally, and deservedly, arrived on the biggest commercial stage. What do you think is the next big milestone for women’s cricket?