Record-Breaking Attendance Marks Opening of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in Guwahati

Image © ICC 2023

Guwahati, September 30, 2025 – The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 commenced with unprecedented fanfare at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, where a record-breaking 22,843 spectators witnessed the opening clash between India and Sri Lanka. This figure marks the highest-ever attendance for a group stage fixture at any ICC Women’s event, surpassing the previous best of 15,935 set during the India–Pakistan match at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in Dubai.

The day began on an emotional note with a musical tribute to Assam’s late cultural icon, Zubeen Garg. Acclaimed artists Papon, Joi Barua, and the Shillong Chamber Choir captivated the crowd with stirring renditions of his most celebrated works, drawing heartfelt responses from the home audience.

Ahead of the cricketing action, the atmosphere was further elevated with moving performances of the national anthems. Renowned singer Shreya Ghoshal lent her voice to India’s national anthem, while Nuwandhika Kumari delivered the Sri Lankan anthem. Later, at the mid-innings interval, Ghoshal returned to the stage for a spirited performance of the official tournament anthem, interwoven with a medley of her most popular songs.

In addition to the entertainment, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) paid tribute to 16 former Indian women cricketers. Among those honoured were ICC Hall of Famers Diana Eduljee and Neetu David, as well as former captains Shanta Rangaswamy, Pramila Bhatt, Purnima Rau, Anjum Chopra, and Mithali Raj.

Despite intermittent showers, the stands remained packed, with the electric atmosphere raising hopes of even higher attendance figures as the 31-match tournament unfolds across venues in Guwahati, Indore, Vishakhapatnam, and Mumbai in India, and Colombo in Sri Lanka.

The tournament has already been hailed as a transformative moment for women’s sport in the country. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar underscored its significance, linking the event’s momentum to recent structural reforms in the women’s game.

“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.”

With such a resounding start, the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 has set the stage not only for enthralling cricket but also for advancing the status of women’s sport on a global scale.