The Indian women’s cricket team’s historic ODI World Cup victory has led to a massive rise in the players’ brand value. Since lifting the trophy in Navi Mumbai, the team’s leading stars have seen endorsement fees increase between 25% and 100%, marking a significant moment for women’s cricket in India.

As per reports, brand agencies and sponsors have flooded players with offers for new deals and renewals at higher rates. Players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Shafali Verma have all seen a steep rise in their commercial demand and social media following.

Jemimah Rodrigues’ brand value doubles

Jemimah Rodrigues, who smashed a remarkable 127* in the semi-final against Australia, has emerged as one of the most sought-after faces in Indian sports. Her endorsement fee has reportedly doubled, now ranging betweenRs75 lakh andRs1.5 crore per brand, depending on the contract terms.

Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports, confirmed the surge in inquiries post the semi-final win, stating that conversations are underway with brands across 10–12 categories.

Smriti Mandhana continues to lead the charts

Smriti Mandhana, India’s highest-paid female cricketer, continues to dominate the brand space. Endorsing major names such as Nike, Hyundai, SBI, Gulf Oil, and PNB MetLife, she is estimated to earnRs1.5–2 crore per brand. Her image as a consistent performer and youth icon has helped expand the commercial footprint of women’s cricket.

Brands celebrate India’s World Cup glory

Major companies quickly joined the celebration wave. Campaigns from Surf Excel and Rexona highlighted women’s empowerment, while Swiggy Instamart, Puma, and Pepsi rolled out congratulatory posts.
Puma, which sponsors Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh, hailed the victory with a message honouring the team’s resilience, while Pepsi’s campaign read, “From one blue team to another.”

This surge has brought long-overdue recognition to India’s women cricketers. The challenge now lies in ensuring that this momentum translates into long-term growth for the sport.

India and Australia are set to face off in the first T20I of the five-match series at Manuka Oval, Canberra, on Wednesday. The encounter between the world’s No. 1 and No. 2 ranked T20I sides promises intense cricketing action, though rain clouds hover as a potential spoiler.

Suryakumar Yadav aims to regain form

Team India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, enters the series riding high after their Asia Cup 2025 triumph. However, all eyes will be on the skipper himself, whose recent batting form has raised some concerns. The Indian captain will look to lead from the front and rediscover his rhythm with the bat.

Australia, on the other hand, arrives with a formidable lineup including Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Hazlewood — a combination that ensures India can’t afford complacency. Both teams have displayed dominant performances in T20Is recently, each winning eight of their last ten games. While India’s tally includes one tied match, Australia had one washed out.

Cricket fans will be watching closely as the two heavyweights battle it out, with weather conditions likely to influence the opening match’s outcome.

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been admitted to a hospital in Sydney after suffering internal bleeding from a rib cage injury sustained during the third ODI against Australia. The injury, described as “potentially fatal” by a team source, has left Iyer under intensive care and extended his expected recovery timeline.

Sudden deterioration after on-field injury

Iyer injured himself while taking a spectacular backward-running catch to dismiss Alex Carey. Soon after returning to the dressing room, he reportedly felt discomfort, prompting immediate medical attention.
According to sources, the medical team detected internal bleeding following a scan, after which Iyer was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

“He has been in ICU for the past couple of days. Internal bleeding was detected, and he had to be admitted immediately,” the source said, adding that doctors are monitoring him closely to prevent infection due to the internal injury.

“Could have been fatal,” says team source

Team doctors acted swiftly when Iyer’s vital signs fluctuated in the dressing room. “The medical staff didn’t take any chances and took him to the hospital immediately. Things are stable now, but it could have been fatal. He’s a tough lad and should be fine soon,” the source added.

Initially expected to miss around three weeks of cricket, Iyer’s recovery could now take longer due to the severity of the injury.
“With internal bleeding involved, he’ll need more time to heal. It’s difficult to put a timeline on his return,” the source said.

To remain in Sydney for recovery

The 31-year-old batter is likely to stay under observation in the Sydney hospital for at least a week before being cleared to travel back to India. He is not part of India’s T20 squad.