Is women’s cricket growing a fanbase?

Women’s cricket has come a long way in recent years. It was only in 1973 that the first Women’s Cricket World Cup was held, and since then, the sport has grown in popularity worldwide. Today, women’s cricket is played in over 50 countries, with the top players competing internationally. Women’s cricket has been gaining popularity worldwide, with more and more fans showing interest in the sport.

The recent ICC Women’s T20 World Cup held in South Africa is a testament to the increasing interest in the sport. With record-breaking attendance and viewership, it is clear that women’s cricket is starting to attract a wider fanbase. This blog post will explore the evidence that suggests that the sport is indeed growing a fanbase.

Record-breaking Attendance:

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa witnessed a record-breaking attendance of over 40,000 fans. The opening match between South Africa and Sri Lanka had the highest attendance for a women’s international match in South Africa, with a close second at the double-header featuring England, India, South Africa, and Australia. This remarkable attendance reflects the growing interest of fans in women’s cricket.

Betting on Women’s Cricket

One indicator of the growing interest in women’s cricket is the increased betting activity on the sport. Betting on women’s cricket was once a rarity, but this is no longer true. For example, 1xbet Cricket, a leading online sports betting platform which now offers a wide range of betting options for women’s cricket matches. This indicates a growing market for women’s cricket, with fans watching the games and betting on them.

Increased Investment:

Another sign of the growth of women’s cricket is the increased investment in the sport. Major brands like Nike, Pepsi, and Uber have invested heavily in the tournament, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. With more investment, the sport can improve its infrastructure, marketing, and player development, which can help it attract a broader fanbase.

Social Media Engagement:

Social media has played a significant role in the growth of women’s cricket. Players like Ellyse Perry and Smriti Mandhana have a massive following on social media, and they have used their platforms to promote women’s cricket. During the ICC T20 World Cup, the hashtag #T20WorldCup trended on social media, generating millions of impressions worldwide. This kind of engagement has helped the sport reach a wider audience, especially among young people.

Media Coverage

Media coverage of women’s cricket has also improved over the years, which has helped increase the sport’s popularity. Major news outlets like ESPN, BBC, and Sky Sports now cover women’s cricket, which was not the case a few years ago. With more media coverage, the sport can reach a wider audience, which can help it grow its fanbase.

Summary

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa has shown that women’s cricket is growing in popularity. The sport attracts a broader fanbase with record-breaking attendance and television viewership, increased investment, social media engagement, and coverage. Women’s cricket still has a long way to go, but with its recent growth, it is clear that it has a bright future ahead, especially as many countries that love the sport, like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are growing economies with steady GDP growth in the recent past.