The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 began with a record-breaking attendance for the opening match between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati. Almost 23,000 people packed the ACA Stadium to see an abundance of superb cricket play, captivating live entertainment, and a thrilling musical homage to a local icon.
The opening match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 drew 22,843 spectators, the highest ever for a group stage fixture at any ICC Women’s event, surpassing the previous record of 15,935 at the India versus Pakistan match.
The Dubai International Stadium during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The day started with a heartfelt musical tribute to Assam’s adored icon, the late Zubeen Garg. Acclaimed musicians Papon, Joi Barua, and the famed Shillong Chamber Choir performed passionate interpretations of his most famous pieces in front of an emotional home audience.
As the players came to the pitch, the emotion continued with a spectacular rendition of the national anthems, with Shreya Ghoshal singing India’s hymn and Nuwandhika Kumari singing Sri Lanka’s.
Shreya Ghoshal returned to the stage during the mid-innings interval to play the official tournament anthem, as well as a lively medley of her hit songs. This magnificent opening marks the start of a tournament that promises not just superb cricket but also a watershed moment for women’s sport in the country.
The BCCI also took the opportunity to honour 16 former Indian women cricketers, which included ICC Hall of Famers Diana Eduljee and Neetu David, and former captains Shanta Rangaswamy, Pramila Bhatt, Purnima Rau, Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj.
The crowds swelled up despite intermittent showers, raising hope of higher attendance in upcoming matches of the 31-match tournament played across Guwahati, Indore, Vishakhapatnam and Mumbai in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
This competition has been earmarked by many as a game-changer for women’s cricket in India, with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar emphasizing the importance of the tournament.
“I must acknowledge the strides made in the past few years,” he stated. “The Women’s Premier League has been nothing short of a game-changer. It has provided the platform, visibility, and financial security that generations of women cricketers could only dream of. A lot of credit must go to Jay Shah, who, during his time as BCCI secretary, pushed for equal match fees for men and women and laid the foundation for the WPL.
“These steps may appear administrative on paper, but in reality, they change lives. They tell every aspiring young girl that her passion is valued equally. I also want to thank the ICC for announcing record prize money for this tournament, even surpassing what was on offer for the men’s World Cup in 2023. Symbolically and practically, it sends a powerful message, that women’s cricket deserves not just applause, but equal respect,” the legendary cricketer concluded.
India
