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From lakhs to crores: India’s women cricketers set for new financial high with increased brand value

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Putting in the hard yards on field brought them the long-awaited World Cup trophy and now it’s time for India’s path-breaking women cricketers to rake in the moolah as their brand valuation goes through the roof.

Top performers like Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and Jemimah Rodrigues can expect their market value to go up by over 50 per cent, which would translate into endorsement deals of over one crore individually, according to the management firms handling them.

And the brands lining up to make them the face of their campaigns could range from automobile companies to banks to FMCGs alongside the expected deals with athleisure, lifestyle, beauty and personal care and education corporations.

Tuhin Mishra, MD and Co-Founder of Baseline Ventures, which manages Mandhana, Richa Ghosh and Radha Yadav, and Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer of JSW Sports, which has Shafali and Jemimah on its roster, were both pumped up about the future of women cricketers in their responses to PTI queries.

“We’re seeing a steep jump: 2 times to 3 times in endorsement value for the top tier. Jemimah has moved from roughly Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore+. Shafali has climbed from around Rs 40 lakh to Rs 1 crore+,” Yadav said.

“We are expecting anywhere between 25-55 per cent increase for the top players. For players who had standout moments in the World Cup, that number could potentially be higher,” asserted Mishra.

“We are also hopeful that this win really solidifies women’s cricket in the commercial market, where brands look at long-term partnerships rather than short-term campaign bursts,” he added.

Yadav said the increased connect with fans, as evident from the explosion in their social media engagements, has also contributed to the rise in the players’ brand value.

“This isn’t just because of the trophy. Their visibility, relevance, cultural reach, and audience engagement have exploded. You can see that in social metrics too.

“Jemimah’s following has doubled to 3.3M, and Shafali has grown by almost 50 per cent. The bigger shift is that brands now view them as year-round storytellers, not only cricket-season faces. So pricing is beginning to reflect that,” he explained.

Mishra said the women are primed to make another breakthrough by endorsing brands which were traditionally promoted by male players.

“We’re seeing interest across industries for women athletes in India like athleisure, lifestyle, beauty and personal care and education. But what’s encouraging is that top women cricketers are now also entering spaces that were earlier considered male-dominated.

“For example, Smriti has been associated with brands like Hyundai, Gulf Oil, SBI Bank, PNB MetLife etc which have traditionally been male dominated spaces/ industries, which shows that the market genuinely sees value in our women stars now,” he said.

Mandhana’s endorsement resume is a diverse one and it is only expected to grow given her red-hot form and affable personality.

“Women cricketers today represent authenticity and ambition, and that resonates across both metro and tier-2/3 audiences. So the range of brands is actually quite wide now.

“Some of the other long term associations for Smriti over the years have been Rexona, Herbalife, Nike, SG, Nestle Maggi, Volini etc. She has also been championing the cause of UNICEF for the last few years,” Mishra said.

Yadav felt the mix of performance, family audience appeal, and the larger message that they represent, which is “confidence, equality, and modern Indian womanhood”, has made them attractive ambassadors.

“Historically, fitness and sportswear led the way. Now we’re seeing real demand from categories like banking and fintech, autos, beauty, travel, consumer tech, and digital-first brands,” he said.

“The win has shifted them from ‘promising’ to ‘mainstream’. I don’t think the idea is to replace male stars. The bigger opportunity is that the definition of star power is changing. It’s now about authenticity, purpose, and cultural relevance, not just stats.

“If the current trajectory holds, women cricketers could command 20-25 per cent of total cricket endorsement value over the next few years. That’s a real change,” he predicted.

The players, who broke bread with Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by an interaction with President Droupadi Murmu after their historic performance, are also being showered with massive one-time rewards.

Tata Motors has announced that all the players will receive the first lot of its soon-to-be-launched Tata Sierra’s top model.

“The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has made the entire nation proud with their extraordinary performance and remarkable win. Their journey stands as a true testament to determination and the power of belief, qualities that inspire every Indian,” the company’s MD and CEO Shailesh Chandra said.

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Classy Gill, all-round Axar win 1st ODI for India against England

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BIRMINGHAM: Shubman Gill continued his love affair with the Edgbaston cricket ground as the Indian captain’s graceful 80 lay the foundation for a walk-in-the park six-wicket victory over England in the first ODI here on Tuesday.

India, now, have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 

Axar Patel, much panned for his recent low returns in T20Is, played the perfect support cast with a superb all-round show of 4/62 and an unbeaten 57 off 52 balls in what could have otherwise been a tricky chase.

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Ireland shock India by 34 runs, notch first win over T20 champions in any format

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BELFAST: Immaculate Ireland bowlers gnawed on Indian batters’ impatience on a rather pacy pitch with exemplary lengths, etching a historic 34-run victory in the first T20I match here on Friday. 

It was Ireland’s first-ever victory over reigning T20 world champions India in any format, and the hosts have now taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Chasing 183 on a pitch that had enough assistance for quick bowlers was not improbable but needed a different, pragmatic approach after power play.

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IPL 2027: Rishabh Pant To Take Rs 12 Crore Pay Cut for Delhi Capitals Move

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Rishabh Pant is poised to reunite with Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League season, with sources confirming that Lucknow Super Giants are preparing to release their former captain as part of a high-profile trade deal. The move will see Pant take a significant pay cut after becoming the most expensive player in IPL history just two years ago.

Trade Deal Nears Completion

Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals are in the final stages of completing a trade that will bring Pant back to the franchise where he spent the majority of his IPL career.

The wicketkeeper-batter is expected to join Delhi Capitals in a deal worth approximately Rs 15 crore (USD 1.5 million). The transaction would represent a salary reduction of Rs 12 crore from the Rs 27 crore contract he received after being purchased by LSG during the IPL 2025 mega auction.

The trade remains subject to approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with both franchises currently finalising the required formalities.

Pant Follows Jadeja in Taking Major Pay Cut

Pant is set to become the second marquee IPL player to accept a substantial salary reduction as part of a franchise trade.

Earlier, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals completed a major player swap involving Ravindra Jadeja and Sanju Samson ahead of IPL 2026, with both franchises adjusting player valuations within the trade arrangement.

The latest move highlights the growing flexibility among franchises in reshaping their squads through player exchanges rather than relying solely on auction dynamics.

Disappointing LSG Stint Ends After Two Seasons

Pant’s tenure with Lucknow Super Giants lasted two seasons and failed to deliver the results the franchise had hoped for after investing a record sum in the star batter.

As captain, he led the side in 28 matches, securing 10 victories while suffering 18 defeats. With the bat, Pant scored 581 runs at an average of 26.4 and a strike rate of 135.74 during his time with the franchise.

Following LSG’s disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, Pant stepped down as captain after the team finished at the bottom of the standings with just four wins in 14 matches.

Before joining Lucknow, Pant had captained Delhi Capitals for four seasons and was one of the franchise’s most recognisable faces. His anticipated return marks a significant homecoming for both the player and the Delhi-based franchise as they look to rebuild for IPL 2027.

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