It is a regular net session at a cricket academy in New Delhi, but the joy among the colourful jersey-clad young girls is unmistakable.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They have a shimmering new source of inspiration, after the Indian women's team pulled off a stunning victory against favourites Australia in the women's World Cup semi-final on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Batter Jemimah Rodrigues slammed an unbeaten 127 as India chased down a record 339 at Mumbai's DY Patil Stadium to secure a place in Sunday's final against South Africa.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"There is always that one thing that inspires a generation," said 19-year-old Armeet Kaur, a batting all-rounder who has played for the Delhi state team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Jemmy's innings yesterday was like that. It will really change things."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Twelve-year-old Ridhima Chaudhary was star-struck.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It made me feel like I have to play like them," she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The sixth-grade student said she has already been working towards that goal -- training three hours a day, five days a week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"My parents also say that cricket academy is as important as school," she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Coach Sumit Poria called the victory a "turning point" for the sport in India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"The way the crowd cheered for the team -- it's a shot in the arm like nothing else before," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While the overall infrastructure has improved in recent years, a big victory like the one on Thursday "will go a long way in convincing parents" to let young women pursue cricket seriously, Poria added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Prize purse exceeds men's -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n The eight-nation tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, has already broken records.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Data released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and streaming platform JioHotstar showed the first 13 matches drew more than 60 million viewers -- five times higher than the 2022 edition.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The India–Pakistan clash earlier this month became the most-watched women's international match ever, with 28.4 million viewers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n That's still a small figure for the world's most populous nation, but it shows the rise in popularity of women's cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n India, twice runners-up, are chasing a maiden title in the 50-over World Cup that now boasts a record $13.88 million prize purse -- eclipsing even the men's total from two years ago.<\/p>\r\n\r\n In New Delhi, the excitement is tangible. Replica women's team jerseys sold out online just hours after India secured their final berth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The popularity is being matched by economic clout.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The wider sports market is booming in India, with its estimated value to surge to $130 billion by 2030, according to a 2024 report by Deloitte and Google.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The 2023 launch of the Women's Premier League generated about $700 million in franchise and media rights for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).<\/p>\r\n\r\n The move toward pay parity, pushed by then-BCCI secretary and now ICC chairman Jay Shah, has further boosted the women's game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n - 'Very big moment' -<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n "The rise of digital platforms has transformed sports consumption... occurring alongside a growing diversification of India's sports fans," the Deloitte report said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n And women are a key part of that.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Women's sports are on the rise," it said. "Fans are increasingly interested in women's sports."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Whether or not India lift the trophy on Sunday, the young cricketers at Delhi's training nets say the impact is already beyond measure.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "When I started playing six years ago, there were only the men to get inspired by," said 18-year-old Ishita Singh. "But now there's the women's team too."<\/p>\r\n\r\n Veteran Indian sports journalist Sharda Ugra called the win "a very big moment".<\/p>\r\n\r\n "It will make the game leapfrog another level in India in terms of attention and being a viable career option for so many girls who want to take part in sport," she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Already there is a mass of talent burgeoning in women's cricket in India. This will make that five times bigger, whatever happens in the final."<\/p>\r\n\r\n India's women cricketing stars, including Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, have become household names, attracting major sponsorships and wide media coverage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n There is a big market to tap into.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Women now comprise 236 million fans -- or 36 precent -- of the fanbase," the study estimated.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "This debunks the notion of a male-only fanbase -- and (shows) women's fast-growing influence in sports."Also Read: <\/strong> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\n
\r\n <\/p>\r\n",
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