Datanomics: Why Women’s Cricket Remains a Loss-Making Proposition for the ICC at the 2023 World Cup
India’s victory in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup came with a significant financial setback for the tournament, which reportedly suffered a loss of $31.39 million, the largest loss recorded by a women’s cricket event in the past decade.
The figures highlight the financial gap that still surrounds women’s cricket, even at its highest-profile global tournaments. While the event drew attention because of India’s title win, the reported loss underscores the challenge of balancing the growing popularity of the women’s game with the costs of hosting a major international competition.
The 2025 edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup was among the most anticipated tournaments in women’s cricket, especially with India playing a central role as host and champion. However, the commercial outcome tells a different story. Despite the scale of the event and the prestige attached to a World Cup, revenues were not enough to offset expenses, leaving organizers with a large deficit.
A loss of $31.39 million is notable not only for its size but also because it is described as the highest incurred by any women’s cricket event over the last 10 years. That comparison places the 2025 tournament in context and shows how difficult it can be for women’s sports events to generate sufficient sponsorship, broadcast, ticketing, and commercial income to cover the costs of staging them at a global level.
The result also reflects a broader structural issue in women’s cricket. Although interest in the women’s game has grown steadily in recent years, major events still rely heavily on long-term investment, stronger marketing, and deeper commercial support to become financially sustainable. The gap between sporting success and financial viability remains wide in many parts of the sport.
India’s triumph on the field was a major sporting achievement, but the reported financial loss adds a contrasting layer to the story. It suggests that even landmark events in women’s cricket can struggle to achieve profitability, despite increased visibility and fan engagement.
For administrators and stakeholders, the figures may serve as a reminder that the future growth of women’s cricket will depend not only on results and audience interest, but also on building stronger revenue models. Expanding sponsorship, improving media rights value, increasing attendance, and developing grassroots support could all play a role in changing the economics of the game.
The 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup will therefore be remembered for two very different reasons: India’s title-winning campaign and the record financial loss that followed. Together, they capture both the progress and the challenges facing women’s cricket as it continues to grow on the world stage.
