India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has welcomed the sudden surge in ticket demand ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final, calling it one of the most encouraging signs for the growth of women’s cricket in the country.
Speaking to the media a day before India take on South Africa in the historic final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, Harmanpreet said she was happy to experience the same kind of “ticket pressure” usually felt by the men’s team.
“You know how it is. There are rarely a few days when there’s pressure for these things,” Harmanpreet said with a smile, referring to friends, relatives and fans asking players for final match tickets. “It is a very positive sign for the women’s game. The demand shows how much people want to come and support us.”
The skipper added that the overwhelming excitement among fans reflects how far women’s cricket has come in India.
“If fans are excited and stadiums are full, that’s all we’ve ever wanted. We are proud that people are treating this final like a massive occasion,” she said.
India made the summit clash after a thrilling chase against Australia, where Jemimah Rodrigues’ century and Harmanpreet’s 89 powered the hosts past 338 — the highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI World Cup history. South Africa, meanwhile, sealed their first World Cup final appearance by beating England in the semifinal.
India will look to lift their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title, while South Africa aim to script history in their first-ever final appearance.
The match begins at 3 PM IST on Sunday at a packed DY Patil Stadium, with ticket demand already reaching unprecedented levels for a women’s game in India.
