India’s women’s cricket team has made history at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 by advancing to the final following a remarkable win over Australia in the semi-final. Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, India achieved an extraordinary run chase of 339 runs, a momentous feat in the team’s journey.
This victory not only secured their first-ever appearance in a World Cup final but also ensured a prize money of nearly Rs 20 crore. With South Africa as their opponent in the upcoming title clash at Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, Harmanpreet and her team are on the verge of a potential even greater triumph, which could see them clinch the trophy and double their earnings to an unprecedented Rs 37.3 crore.
The 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup has established a new standard for the sport, both in terms of scale and principle. The champions of the tournament will receive Rs 37.3 crore, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs 20 crore. These figures break records, with a 239 percent increase in the winner’s prize compared to the 2022 edition and a 273 percent rise in the runners-up reward from three years ago.
The total prize pool for the 2025 Women’s World Cup amounts to Rs 116 crore, nearly three times higher than the prize money distributed in the previous tournament in 2022. Notably, this year’s event is significant as it marks the first instance of the ICC introducing equal prize money for both men’s and women’s World Cups, demonstrating a commitment to gender pay parity. The prize pool even surpasses that of the 2023 Men’s World Cup.
Each participating team in this year’s tournament is guaranteed Rs 2 crore, while the fifth and sixth-placed teams will each receive Rs 5.8 crore. Teams finishing seventh and eighth will take home Rs 2.3 crore each. Additionally, every group-stage victory adds Rs 28 lakh to a team’s earnings, emphasizing the importance of consistent performance from the early stages.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah has lauded the record prize money as a significant moment for women’s cricket, highlighting the organization’s commitment to the long-term growth of the sport. The sharp increase in financial rewards underscores the ICC’s dedication to treating women cricketers equally to their male counterparts, promoting equality and professionalism in the sport.
The Women’s World Cup, now in its 13th edition and hosted across venues in India and Sri Lanka, has been recognized as a milestone for women’s sports. By elevating the stakes significantly, the ICC has not only enhanced the level of competition but also bolstered the commercial and cultural aspects of women’s cricket. A victory for India on Sunday would represent more than just a world title, symbolizing equality, excellence, and the burgeoning prominence of women’s cricket on the global platform.