The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 opened in spectacular fashion, with a record-breaking attendance of 22,843 for the opening match between India and Sri Lanka at the ACA Stadium, Guwahati. This figure is the highest ever for a group stage match at any ICC Women’s event, surpassing the previous best of 15,935 at the India–Pakistan clash during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai.
The historic turnout was accompanied by a vibrant cultural celebration, showcasing the growing popularity of women’s cricket in India and the region’s passion for the sport.
Emotional cultural tributes and musical celebrations
The day began with a musical tribute to Assam’s iconic artist Zubeen Garg. Acclaimed musicians Papon, Joi Barua, and the Shillong Chamber Choir performed stirring renditions of his most beloved songs, moving the home crowd.
The opening ceremony featured powerful national anthem performances: Shreya Ghoshal for India and Nuwandhika Kumari for Sri Lanka. At the innings break, Ghoshal returned to perform the official tournament anthem along with a medley of her hits, drawing huge applause from fans.
BCCI honours women’s cricket trailblazers
The BCCI used the occasion to honour 16 former Indian women cricketers, including ICC Hall of Famers Diana Eduljee and Neetu David, and legendary captains Shanta Rangaswamy, Pramila Bhatt, Purnima Rau, Anjum Chopra, and Mithali Raj. The felicitation highlighted the game’s pioneers and their contribution to the growth of women’s cricket in India.
Fans defy rain to set new record
Despite intermittent showers, fans filled the stadium in large numbers, raising hopes of even higher attendances across the 31-match tournament, staged across Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, and Mumbai in India, along with fixtures in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sachin Tendulkar hails progress in women’s cricket
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar described the tournament as a transformational moment for women’s sport in India.
“The Women’s Premier League has been a game-changer, giving women cricketers visibility and financial security,” Tendulkar said. He credited Jay Shah for spearheading reforms such as equal match fees for men and women, while also praising the ICC’s record prize money for the tournament.
“These steps change lives and tell every aspiring young girl that her passion is valued equally. The ICC’s move to offer record prize money — surpassing the men’s World Cup in 2023 — symbolically and practically shows that women’s cricket deserves equal respect.”
A new era for women’s cricket
The record-breaking opening day underlines the rapid rise of women’s cricket as a commercial and cultural force. With global stars, passionate crowds, and historic reforms in place, the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is set to redefine the landscape of the game in India and beyond.
