**Women’s World Cup 2025: Record-Breaking Crowd Attendance in India vs Sri Lanka Match**

*By Gaurav Tripathi | October 1, 2025, 09:26 AM*

The opening match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 between India and Sri Lanka has made history by setting a new attendance record in women’s cricket. Held on September 30 at Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium, the match attracted an unprecedented crowd of 22,843 fans. This figure marks the highest attendance for any group stage match in Women’s World Cup history, surpassing the previous record of 15,935 set during the India-Pakistan clash in 2024.

**Sachin Tendulkar Praises Progress in Women’s Cricket**

ICC Hall of Famer Sachin Tendulkar commended the remarkable progress made by women’s cricket over recent years. He highlighted the Women’s Premier League (WPL) as a transformative platform, which has significantly enhanced visibility and provided financial security to women cricketers.

Tendulkar also expressed gratitude towards Jay Shah, former BCCI secretary, for his efforts in advocating equal match fees for men and women and for laying the groundwork for the establishment of the WPL.

**ICC’s Record Prize Money Welcomed**

Tendulkar further applauded the ICC for announcing record prize money for this tournament—amounts exceeding those offered during the men’s World Cup in 2023. He emphasized that such administrative measures not only change lives but also send a strong message that women’s cricket deserves equal respect.

According to the former Indian cricketer, these initiatives are essential in inspiring aspiring young girls by valuing their passion on an equal footing with their male counterparts.

**Match Highlights: India Defeats Sri Lanka by 59 Runs (DLS Method)**

The rain-curtailed opening game saw India bat first, posting a competitive total of 269/8 in 47 overs. Key contributions came from Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma, both scoring valuable fifties to rescue the innings after a shaky start.

Sri Lanka suffered a middle-order collapse and were all out for 211 runs. Deepti Sharma also made a significant impact with the ball, claiming three wickets for 54 runs (3/54). With this performance, Deepti became India’s second-highest wicket-taker in women’s ODI cricket, surpassing former spinner Neetu David.

The historic crowd turnout and the thrilling contest underline the growing popularity and competitive spirit of women’s cricket globally as the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 gets underway.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/ind-sl-women-s-wc-encounter-sets-benchmark-with-22-843-fans/story