India’s historic triumph in the Women’s World Cup has elevated its cricket stars into a new league of fame, fortune, and recognition. The landmark victory over South Africa in Navi Mumbai on Sunday not only healed years of heartbreak but also turned the players into the country’s newest brand powerhouses.
According to The Economic Times, endorsement fees for India’s women cricketers have surged by 25% to 100% within days of the win. Players like Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Shafali Verma have seen their social media following explode — with some doubling or even tripling overnight.
“Since this morning, there’s been a rush of brand queries — not just for new endorsements but also renegotiations, with fee hikes of 25–30%,” revealed Tuhin Mishra, Managing Director of Baseline Ventures, which manages several leading women cricketers.
Leading the pack is Jemimah Rodrigues, whose unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semifinal* made her a national icon. Her brand value has reportedly doubled, with Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer at JSW Sports, noting, “We’ve been flooded with offers across 10–12 brand categories.” Jemimah now charges between ₹75 lakh and ₹1.5 crore per endorsement, depending on the campaign scale. With 16 major brand deals — including Nike, Hyundai, Rexona, Herbalife, SBI, Gulf Oil, and PNB MetLife — she earns an estimated ₹1.5–2 crore per brand annually.
Even before the final whistle, Hindustan Unilever had prepared full-page ads for Surf Excel and Rexona, celebrating women athletes. “The maidan belongs to every woman who shows up, stands tall, and plays her heart out,” said HUL MD Priya Nair, unveiling the brand’s campaign honoring the team’s determination.
Brands across sectors quickly joined the celebration. Swiggy Instamart shared witty tributes — “Queen served so good, the entire stadium couldn’t sit still.” Puma, which sponsors Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh, declared: “Every doubt. Every heartbreak. Burned. Harmanpreet Kaur is a World Cup-winning captain.” Even Pepsi added its voice with, “From one blue team to another.”
India’s women cricketers are now at the heart of a marketing revolution, commanding the respect and recognition they’ve long deserved. The true test, however, lies ahead — ensuring this newfound fame marks not just a moment of glory, but a lasting transformation in how women’s sports are valued and celebrated in India.
Rahul Ravindran’s calm reply wins hearts online
Words can spark more than just thoughts — sometimes, they set the internet ablaze. Director Rahul Ravindran, who’s gearing up for the release of his third film The Girlfriend, probably didn’t expect a casual remark during promotions to turn into a social media storm.
While discussing equality in marriage, Rahul shared, “After our wedding, I told my wife, singer Chinmayi, that it’s her choice whether to wear a mangalsutra or not. I even suggested not wearing it because it’s unfair that men don’t have any visible symbol of marriage while women are expected to.” It was an honest take — but the internet, as always, had opinions.
One user commented, “You lost my respect, Anna.” Instead of reacting harshly, Rahul responded gracefully: “Buddy, it’s okay to disagree or lose respect for someone. I appreciate that you said it decently.” This calm, respectful exchange caught everyone’s attention. Later, the same user replied warmly, “It’s my nature, Anna 😊 All the best for The Girlfriend. Waiting to see Rashmika’s character.”
In an era of online outrage, this brief interaction stood out for its decency and empathy — a rare thing on social media.
Coming to the film, The Girlfriend is all set to release on November 7th. Starring Rashmika Mandanna as Bhooma, it delves into the complexities of love, control, and emotional turmoil in a possessive relationship. Interestingly, this small controversy has already sparked meaningful discussions even before the movie’s release — proving once again that sometimes, it’s not just the film that creates a stir, but the filmmaker behind the mic.