India’s historic World Cup triumph has sparked a watershed moment for women’s cricket. The International Cricket Council announced on November 7 that the Women’s Cricket World Cup will expand from eight to ten teams starting in 2029, capitalizing on unprecedented viewership numbers and stadium attendance that shattered all previous records.
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Breaking Barriers: The Numbers Behind the Decision
The International Cricket Council Board made this landmark decision during their Dubai meeting, directly responding to the 2025 tournament’s phenomenal success. Nearly 300,000 fans packed stadiums across India and Sri Lanka, setting a new benchmark for women’s cricket event attendance. Even more remarkable? The digital revolution that accompanied it.
Women’s World Cup 2025: Historic Achievements
| Metric | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Stadium Attendance | 300,000 fans (Record for women’s cricket) |
| India Viewership | 500 million viewers |
| Final Match Viewers | 185 million (IND vs SA) |
| Digital Reach | 446 million (exceeds last 3 WWCs combined) |
| Trophy Presentation | 21 million live viewers |
Matching Men’s Cricket Viewership
Perhaps the most telling statistic: India’s 52-run victory over South Africa in the final attracted 185 million viewersโmatching the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final between the same nations. This viewership parity demolishes long-standing myths about women’s sports commercial viability and audience appeal.
The tournament’s digital footprint tells an equally compelling story. At 446 million, the reach surpassed the combined total of the previous three Women’s World Cups on digital platforms. As Harmanpreet Kaur lifted India’s maiden ODI World Cup trophy on November 2, 21 million viewers watched liveโa testament to the sport’s growing grassroots following.
A dream realised ๐
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) November 5, 2025
A journey defined by belief ๐ช
A moment that inspires a million more โจ
Smriti Mandhana on the ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฅ๐๐ #๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐ญ ๐ก๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ – By @mihirlee_58 #WomenInBlue | #CWC25 | #Champions |โฆ pic.twitter.com/Jm5DdYyApU
What Expansion Means for Global Cricket
The jump from eight to ten teams opens doors for emerging cricket nations to compete at the highest level. Countries like Ireland, Zimbabwe, Thailand, and Scotlandโwho’ve shown promising development in women’s cricketโnow have clearer pathways to World Cup participation.
This expansion aligns with the ICC’s broader development strategy, ensuring that the women’s game grows beyond traditional powerhouses. More teams mean more qualifying tournaments, increased competitive cricket for associate nations, and enhanced infrastructure investment across regions.
Building on India’s Golden Moment
India’s World Cup victory wasn’t just about cricketโit was a cultural phenomenon. The team’s journey from perennial bridesmaids to champions captured national imagination, generating mainstream media coverage typically reserved for men’s tournaments. Brands rushed to sign endorsement deals, young girls flooded cricket academies, and prime-time television devoted hours to post-match analysis.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India and Sri Lanka Cricket’s co-hosting arrangements proved that South Asian markets possess the infrastructure and fan appetite to deliver world-class women’s cricket events. The success pressures other cricket boards to prioritize women’s cricket development or risk falling behind.
The Road to 2029
While the ICC hasn’t announced the 2029 host nation, the expanded format will require careful tournament design. Will the competition adopt a two-group structure like men’s tournaments? How will qualification pathways change to accommodate additional teams? These logistical questions will shape women’s cricket’s trajectory over the next four years.
What’s certain: the 2025 tournament demonstrated that when given equal platform, promotion, and investment, women’s cricket can match men’s cricket in viewership, engagement, and commercial success. The expansion to ten teams isn’t charityโit’s smart business responding to proven market demand.
As the ICC prepares for 2029, one truth emerges: women’s cricket has graduated from niche spectacle to mainstream sporting powerhouse, and the world is finally paying attention
