India’s historic triumph in the Women’s World Cup has catapulted its cricket stars into a new league of fame and fortune.
The landmark victory over South Africa in Navi Mumbai on Sunday not only healed years of heartbreak but also transformed the players into the country’s newest brand powerhouses.
According to The Economic Times, endorsement fees for India’s women cricketers have surged by 25% to 100% within days of the win.
Players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Shafali Verma have seen their social media followings skyrocket, with some doubling or even tripling overnight.
“Since this morning, there’s been a rush of brand queries — not just new endorsements but also renegotiations, with fee increases upwards of 25-30%,” said Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director of Baseline Ventures, which manages several women cricketers.
Leading the charge is Jemimah Rodrigues, whose stunning 127* in the semifinal against Australia made her a national sensation.
Her brand value has reportedly jumped by 100%, and according to Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports, “We’ve been flooded with offers across 10-12 brand categories.”
Jemimah now commands between â¹75 lakh and â¹1.5 crore per endorsement, depending on the campaign scale.
Meanwhile, Smriti Mandhana, already India’s highest-paid female cricketer, continues to dominate the brand circuit.
With 16 endorsements — including Nike, Hyundai, HUL’s Rexona, Herbalife, SBI, Gulf Oil, and PNB MetLife — she earns an estimated â¹1.5–2 crore per brand.
Even before the final whistle blew, Hindustan Unilever had readied full-page newspaper ads for Surf Excel and Rexona, celebrating women athletes.
“The maidan belongs to every woman who shows up, stands tall, and plays her heart out,” said HUL MD Priya Nair, unveiling the brand’s campaign celebrating the team’s grit.
Brands across industries quickly joined the celebration. Swiggy Instamart posted cheeky tributes — “Queen served so good, the entire stadium couldn’t sit still.”
Puma, which sponsors Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh, declared: “Every doubt. Every heartbreak. Burned. Harmanpreet Kaur is a World Cup-winning captain.” Even Pepsi chimed in with, “From one blue team to another.”
India’s women cricketers are now at the center of a marketing storm, commanding respect and recognition long overdue.
The challenge ahead will be to ensure that this surge in visibility and valuation isn’t a fleeting moment — but a lasting transformation in how women’s sports are celebrated in India.