India’s historic World Cup victory has transformed the nation’s women cricketers into commercial heavyweights, achieving in weeks what decades of gradual progress could not. Players such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues have seen their endorsement values double or even triple, pushing them firmly into the ₹1-crore-plus bracket — a space once reserved almost exclusively for male cricket stars.
For the first time, major brands across sectors including automobiles, banking and consumer goods are aggressively pursuing women cricketers for marquee campaigns. Marketers say the shift signals a cultural turning point in how India defines sporting stardom.
The digital boom tells its own story. Jemimah Rodrigues’ Instagram following has surged to 3.3 million, while Shafali Verma has registered a 50% jump. Their engagement levels now rival several established male players, reflecting a broad and deeply invested fan base.
Smriti Mandhana continues to lead the brand charge, representing Hyundai, Gulf Oil, SBI and Nike — categories historically dominated by male ambassadors. Her appeal is now seen as gender-neutral, rooted in performance, trust and national visibility.
Industry experts predict women cricketers could command 20–25% of all cricket-related endorsement value within the next five years — an unimaginable projection just a few seasons ago.
Off the field, the rewards are equally significant. The champions have received state honours, the BCCI’s ₹51-crore prize pool, and top-end Sierra SUVs from Tata Motors.
For advertisers, the rise of India’s women cricketers isn’t about replacing long-standing male icons — it’s about rewriting what modern stardom looks like. These athletes now represent something rare and powerful: performance backed by purpose.