Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: Marketing Opportunities for Sports Brands

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is shaping up as more than a global sporting spectacle—it’s a cultural and commercial turning point. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting, a record-breaking USD 13.88 million prize pool (surpassing the men’s 2023 World Cup winner’s share), and India’s “big three” of Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues carrying the weight of history, the tournament has become a stage for both gender equity and sporting excellence.  

For brands that haven’t caught up with women’s cricket, the World Cup is a prime opportunity to catch up with the sport’s momentum. India’s cricketers are not only elite athletes but also powerful cultural icons shaping new narratives of representation and aspiration. Fan-first engagement, authentic storytelling, and athlete-centered activations are now the real differentiators.  

The Rising Commercial Value of Women's Cricket 

Women's cricket has experienced remarkable growth, with the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 drawing a cumulative global audience exceeding 1.1 billion. Digital engagement has skyrocketed, generating over 1.64 billion video views. This surge translates directly to marketing opportunities, with sponsor brand exposure increasing by 42% compared to previous tournaments. 

The Indian women's cricket team has emerged as a significant commercial driver in this landscape. Representing a marketing powerhouse, the team offers tremendous on-ground activation potential in host cities. Brands like Dream11 and Hyundai have successfully activated partnerships with the Indian women's team. This reflects broader growth in women's sports marketing, where audience authenticity and emotional connection often deliver stronger brand outcomes. 

Top Sports Marketing Opportunities in Women’s Cricket 

The 2025 ICC Women's T20 World Cup will showcase exceptional talent from India who offer distinctive opportunities for authentic brand representation. Based on recent performances and squad announcements, here are the key players likely to make a significant impact: 

Deepti Sharma: As one of cricket's premier all-rounders with over 100 T20I appearances, Sharma's consistent performance and leadership make her an ideal ambassador for brands seeking reliability and excellence. Her economy rate of 6.21 in T20Is demonstrates her precision and control—qualities that resonate with premium brands. 

Sneh Rana:  As a versatile spin-bowling all-rounder with historic achievements across all formats, Rana's breakthrough performances and resilience make her a compelling choice for brands targeting determination and excellence. With 74 international wickets across formats and a proven track record of rising to big occasions, Rana represents the modern athlete who combines technical skill with mental fortitude. 

Renuka Singh Thakur: India's most potent new-ball threat, Thakur's precision and ability to perform under pressure make her an attractive partner for brands that value precision and impact. Her recent five-wicket haul against Australia demonstrates her capability to excel on the biggest stages. 

Each player brings a unique personality and skill set that brands can authentically integrate into their marketing narratives. Rather than generic endorsements, the most successful campaigns will highlight these athletes' individual journeys and accomplishments while connecting them to brand values. 

Effective On-Ground Marketing Strategies: Bringing Players to Audiences 

On-ground marketing during the Women's Cricket World Cup offers unparalleled opportunities to create meaningful connections between athletes and audiences. Examining successful brand activations reveals several effective approaches: 

Player-Led Storytelling: Brands like Mastercard and Nike have excelled by highlighting personal journeys of female cricketers, focusing on overcoming barriers and inspiring new generations. These narratives perform best when they feature real interactions with athletes rather than scripted endorsements. 

Community Engagement Through Players: Brands hosting cricket clinics featuring national team members, meet-and-greets, and grassroots initiatives around tournament venues have built lasting connections with local communities while positioning players as accessible role models rather than distant celebrities. 

Authentic Partnerships: Collaborations that align with players' personal values and interests tend to generate higher engagement than standard sponsorships. When brands take time to understand and amplify what matters to athletes—like Shreyanka Patil's interest in youth development or Pooja Vastrakar's journey through injury recovery—both parties benefit from the authenticity. 

Content Storytelling: Behind-the-scenes narratives that showcase players' story beyond match statistics create deeper fan connections than traditional highlight reels. When teams invest in documenting authentic moments, the content resonates far beyond cricket circles.  

Similar to how RCB Diaries transformed how fans perceive their favorite players by showing vulnerability and personality, these intimate storytelling formats turn athletes into relatable human beings rather than distant sports figures, fostering loyalty that extends well beyond tournament seasons. 

Seizing the Indian Women's Cricket Opportunity 

By focusing on meaningful on-ground activations that elevate player representation and connect with fans through the stories of India's cricket stars like Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh Thakur, brands can develop strategies that not only capitalize on the immediate tournament opportunity but build lasting connections with a valuable global audience. Platforms like Zupotsu, which directly represent leading women athletes and connect them with brands, make it easier for marketers to create authentic collaborations that resonate with fans. 

The question isn't whether brands should be activating around Indian women cricketers during the World Cup, but how quickly they can develop sophisticated strategies—working with partners like Zupotsu—to authentically represent these athletes while making the most of this rapidly evolving platform. 

As women's cricket continues its remarkable growth trajectory, those who invest in thoughtful, player-centered marketing now will establish themselves as authentic supporters of the sport and its athletes—positioning their brands for long-term success in this increasingly valuable space. Partner with Zupotsu now to make the most out of women’s cricket. 

Zupotsu is a martech platform on a mission to ‘digitize’ sports marketing. Zupotsu enables the discovery, engagement, and evaluation (the ‘DEE’ framework) for every sports and esports marketing asset. Please sign up at www.zupotsu.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Reach out at ‘marketing@zupotsu.com’ for any queries.