There was so much debate and discussion on the pitch that was selected for the ODI World Cup 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where Australia ended hosts India's unbeaten 10-match winning streak to lift the precious trophy for a record-extending sixth time. The International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed their rating for the Ahmedabad pitch and the ones used for the semifinal games.

Also Read: U19 Cricket World Cup Winners List (1988 to 2024)

The Final match was played on a used track. India were folded for 240 runs which was chased down by the Aussies with seven overs to spare, courtesy of Travis Head's marvellous century knock.

Before the big game, Australia captain Pat Cummins had raised a concern over the pitch, which was previously used for the India-Pakistan match on October 14, while his India counterpart Rohit Sharma stayed away from the talk around it.

According to some reports, ICC have rated the Ahmedabad track as "average". The rating was given by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft. The report further added that five of India's 11 games - against South Africa in Kolkata, vs England in Lucknow, vs Pakistan in Ahmedabad and vs Australia in Chennai - were played on "averaged-rated" pitches. Among the matches played by India on a pitch that was rated "good" by the ICC, that made by former India bowler Javagal Srinath was the semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday announced that the upcoming ICC Women's World Cup 2025 will feature the biggest ever prize money for the winning team. 

This time the champion team will get 4.48 million US dollars (about Rs 39.55 crores), which is almost four times more than the prize money of the previous edition (1.32 million dollars or Rs 11.65 crores).

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Prize money increases more than the 2023 Men’s World Cup

Women's World Cup 2025, to be held from September 30 to November 2 under the hosting of India and Sri Lanka, will be played between a total of eight teams.

The total prize money of this tournament will be US $ 13.88 million (about Rs 122.5 crore), which is almost three times more than the last World Cup held in New Zealand in 2022 (3.5 million dollars i.e. Rs 31 crore).

Moreover, this prize money is more than the Men's World Cup 2023 ($10 million i.e. Rs 88.26 crore).

'strategy to focus on the growth of the women’s game.'

The winning team of the men's ODI World Cup in 2023, Australia, received Rs 33.31 crore. Whereas, the runner-up India received Rs 16.65 crore. The winning amount of the Women's ODI World Cup is much more than this.

According to the ICC, the purpose of this increase is to increase the popularity of women's cricket and to give it equal respect as men's cricket.

“Strategy to focus on the growth of the women’s game.” ICC said in its statement on Sunday.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Chinnaswamy Stadium loses hosting rights due to “unforeseen circumstances” after RCB stampede case

Women cricketers must know they will be treated on par with men: Jay Shah

In another boost for women's cricket, there will be a huge increase in prize money for the @ICC Women’s @CricketWorldCup 2025. Overall prize money totals USD $13.88M, a 297% increase from the last edition and more than the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 (USD $10M). #CWC25 pic.twitter.com/rXtIhFEax5

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) September 1, 2025

ICC president Jay Shah said that the increased prize money shows that the global body will treat women players as equals to men’s cricketers. 

“This announcement marks a defining milestone in the journey of women’s cricket. This four-fold increase in prize money is a landmark moment for women’s cricket and reflects our clear commitment to its long-term growth," Shah said. 

“Our message is simple, women cricketers must know they will be treated on par with men if they choose this sport professionally."

“The uplift underscores our ambition to deliver a world-class ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and to inspire the next generation of players and fans. Women’s cricket is on a remarkable upward trajectory, and with this step we are confident the momentum will accelerate. We call upon all stakeholders, fans, media, partners, and Member Boards, to join us in championing the women’s game and ensuring it receives the recognition and respect it deserves.” Jay Shah further added.

Cricket is one of the most followed sports across the globe. For its followers, the matches are not just a game but an emotion. The excitement and intensity have always been high when popular matches like World Cups, India vs Pakistan matches take center stage. The passion and emotions run high among fanatics when these teams meet.

As there were multiple clashes in the history of cricket that garnered record viewership, let's take a look the top 10 most watched cricket matches in history.

Also Read: Most matches by an Indian in international cricket

Most watched cricket matches in history

10. ODI World Cup 2023 Final | India vs Australia

While the 2023 edition of the ICC Men’s World Cup broke every record of cricket viewership in India, the final also remained among the most-watched matches in history. Featuring hosts India and Australia, the match was watched by more than 300 million viewers.

Played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Australia claimed an impressive six-wicket victory to lift the World Cup title for the sixth time. The match was widely considered to be one of the biggest upsets in Cricket World Cup history. Travis Head’s 137-run knock single-handedly guided the Aussies to a win.

9. ODI World Cup 2015 Group Match | India vs Pakistan

Among most awaited clashes of any ICC tournaments, the clash of arch-rivals India and Pakistan has to be right on top.

Electing to bat first, India finished with 300/7 with the help of Virat Kohli's exceptional ton and Suresh Raina's quick-fire 74 at the end. In reply, Pakistan were bowled out for 224 in 47 overs with Shami being the pick of the bowlers with 4/35 off his 9 overs.

8. ODI World Cup 2015 Group Match | India vs South Africa

When India locked horns with South Africa in a Group B match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, 30 crore unique viewers tuned in to watch the match. 

Entering the tournament with a poor run of form, there were not many expectations from Team India. On the other hand, South Africa entered the tournament as one of the title favorites. But with India crushing Pakistan by 76 runs in their opening match, a neck-to-neck match was anticipated when they face off South Africa in their next clash.

Batting first the MS Dhoni-led team India posted a mammoth total of 307 runs on the board with the help of Shikhar Dhawan's high-quality 137 and Ajinkya Rahane’s quickfire 79. Chasing 308, the Proteas were bundled out for a paltry 177 with Ashwin mustering three and Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja sharing five wickets among them.

7. T20 World Cup 2007 Final | India vs Pakistan

The 2007 T20 World Cup final between India and Pakistan was a historic match. It was the first time that the two teams had met in a T20 World Cup final, and it was also the first time that a T20 World Cup final had been played in England. The match was watched by an estimated 190 million unique viewers worldwide, making it one of the most watched cricket matches in history

India won the match by 5 runs, and it was a victory that was celebrated by millions of fans across the world. The match was a thrilling contest, and it was a fitting end to a successful tournament.

6. Champions Trophy 2013 Final | England vs India

England and India squared off in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy final on June 23, 2013, at Birmingham's Edgbaston Cricket Ground. England defeated South Africa in the first semi-final to go to the final. India advanced to the championship match after overcoming Sri Lanka in the second semi-final Rain caused the match to be postponed for over six hours. It began at 16:20 local time and was shortened to 20 overs each innings. Thus, this match was played under the same regulations as a T20 match.

The match was a huge success, and it is clear that cricket is still a very popular sport in the world. The high viewership numbers for the match show that there is a huge appetite for cricket.

Also Read: Most maiden overs in T20Is among Test playing nations

5. ODI World Cup 2019 Semifinal | India vs New Zealand

The first semi-final between New Zealand and India took place at Manchester's Old Trafford. The Kiwis finished their 50 overs with a total of 239/8 thanks to Taylor's additional seven runs to top-score. 

With the top three batters going for only one run apiece, India fell to 5/3 in the fourth over of the chase, and after ten overs, they were 24/4. Following a modest 47-run fifth-wicket stand between Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni partnered Ravindra Jadeja for a century-run partnership for the seventh wicket, leaving India requiring 37 runs from the last three overs. 

This ended up being MS Dhoni's last match for India; in August 2020, he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. After Dhoni was run out, New Zealand advanced to their second consecutive World Cup final thanks to a late-order collapse that saw them grab the final four wickets for only 13 runs.

4. ODI World Cup 2019 Final | New Zealand vs England

The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup final is etched in history as the most dramatic 50-over clash ever. On July 14, 2019, at the iconic Lord’s, England claimed their first-ever World Cup title in a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire. 

Under Eoin Morgan’s leadership, England had to rely on the boundary count to secure the trophy after a nail-biting Super Over failed to separate them from New Zealand.

After defeating New Zealand in the final, England lifted their maiden men's World Cup, marking a historic moment in the 44-year history of the tournament. For New Zealand, it was another heartbreak at the summit of the sport, following their loss to Australia in the 2015 World Cup final.

3. ODI World Cup 2003 Final | India vs Australia

The 2003 Cricket World Cup Final between India and Australia was one of the most anticipated matches in the history of the sport. It was a thrilling contest that went down to the wire, and it will be remembered as one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time.

The match was played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 292 runs for the loss of eight wickets. India's reply was never really in contention, and they were bowled out for 234 runs. Australia won the match by 125 runs and was crowned World Champions for the third time.

2. ODI World Cup 2011 Semifinal | India vs Pakistan

The high-octane India vs Pakistan 2011 World Cup semifinal in Mohali notched up one of the most watched cricket matches in history.

The India and Pakistan have a long and intense rivalry, and the match was being played on Indian soil. India won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 260 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their 50 overs. Sachin Tendulkar top-scored with 85 runs for India. 

Pakistan's reply was never really in the hunt, and they were bowled out for 231 runs in 49.5 overs. Wahab Riaz was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking 3 wickets for 42 runs. India won the match by 29 runs and qualified for the World Cup Final.

Also Read: India vs Pakistan in World Cups | All Time Stats

1. ODI World Cup 2011 Final | India vs Sri Lanka

Back in 2011, the world's cricketing eyes were set on the biggest event of the year, the ICC ODI World Cup finals. The Indian team had powered their way into the finals, set to face off against the co-hosts Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka had set a formidable target of 274 runs on the board, courtesy of a valiant century by Mahela Jayawardene. To end their country's 28-year wait for the trophy, the Indian team needed to pull off a record-breaking run chase.

Led by MS Dhoni, the Indian team etched their name in cricketing history with a thrilling and unforgettable performance. Gautam Gambhir soaks in the pressure with an steady innings of 97 after the early loss of Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar at the hands of lethal Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga. The Indian captain himself played a captain's knock with an unbeaten 91* as India went on to win the World Cup.

It was a historic game, watched by millions around the world, and it became the most viewed cricket game ever played.

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and a total of 8 teams are to participate in it. But even before the tournament starts, a big change has been made in its schedule.

After the stampede in Bengaluru, the ICC has now decided to shift the matches to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the ground in Navi Mumbai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Matches cancelled in Bengaluru due to RCB stampede case

After 17 years of long wait, RCB team finally won the IPL 2025 title. After this, RCB players gathered at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate the victory. There was a huge crowd to see them and after this many fans lost their lives due to a stampede.

Then the Karnataka government formed a commission, which declared the Bengaluru ground unsafe for big events. Now after this, the ICC has decided not to hold matches on the Bengaluru ground.

Matches will be held at Navi Mumbai ground

The match between India and Sri Lanka was to be held on 30 September at Bengaluru ground, which will now be played at Guwahati ground. The match between England and South Africa was also scheduled to be held on 3 October, which will now be held in Guwahati. The match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 20 October was to be played at Colombo ground, which will now be played at Navi Mumbai ground. 

On the other hand, Navi Mumbai has got two more matches to be played in Bengaluru. These include India vs New Zealand (23 October) and India vs Bangladesh (26 October). There is also a strong possibility that the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final will be held either in Navi Mumbai or Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Jay Shah expressed satisfaction about the new venue

"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans. I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Jay Shah said in an ICC release.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world.

“While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans.”

Indian ODI team captain Rohit Sharma has reached the second position in the men's ICC ODI rankings. In the new rankings released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, the Hitman jumped one place and reached the second position. With this, he left behind Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam. 

Also Read: Most Ducks by an Indian in Tests

Rohit last played in March

Rohit, who has already retired from Tests and T20I, last played an ODI in March during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final against New Zealand, which India won.

Rohit has scored 180 runs in the ICC Champions Trophy in five matches, boasting a highest strike rate of 100.00 among the Indian batters in the tournament. Rohit has 756 rating points in the latest rankings.

Babar failed to perform against West Indies

On the other hand, Babar could not show anything special in the recent ODI series against West Indies, which the Men in Green lost 1-2 in Trinidad. As a result, he slipped to the third position.

With Babar managing just 56 runs against West Indies in three ODIs, the International Cricket Council (ICC) took a note of his strike rate to drop him to third. He managed a strike rate of just 62.22 against West Indies.

Gill at No. 1

There has been no change in Shubman Gill's reign in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters. He is in first place with 784 rating points. Apart from Gill and Rohit, the third Indian in the top five is Virat Kohli, who is in fourth place. He has 736 rating points.

India continues to dominate the ODI charts, with five players in the top 15, including Shreyas Iyer (8th) and KL Rahul (15th).

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer's best knocks in Tests

India to play next ODI series against Australia

It is worth mentioning that the Indian team will tour Australia in October. During this time a three-match ODI series will be played between the two.

Rohit announced after Champions Trophy 2025 that he does not intend to retire from ODI cricket, even sharing a moment with Kohli joking about it during the celebrations.

However, despite having eyes on the 2027 Cricket World Cup, Rohit and Kohli's spots are reportedly not a guarantee in the ODI setup. In fact, as per reports in recent days, the veteran duo will also have to turn up in domestic cricket as a metric for form and fitness.

On the other hand, whether Rohit will continue to be captain till the World Cup is also a topic of debate. With 25-year-old Shubman Gill impressing in England, Rohit isn't an automatic captaincy selection anymore. However, the ODI rankings continue to reflect both Rohit and Kohli's continued prowess in the 50-over format.

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is scheduled to be hosted by India in September-October. This will be the 13th edition of the tournament. India has reached the final of the Women's ODI Cricket World Cup twice, but has never won it.

Australia Women’s Team lift the previous edition of the ICC World Cup at the Christchurch Cricket Stadium in New Zealand. They defeated the England team with 71 runs.

Let's have a look at the ICC Women's World Cup past winners and most successful teams.

Also Read: Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule (men and women)

ICC Women's World Cup | First Edition Winner

The women's cricket world cup was held 2 years before the first men's world cup. In 1973, the tournament was first hosted with 7 teams participating in the tournament. The tournament was hosted by England. England became the champion by defeating Australia in the 60-over tournament.

India was not a part of it. The Indian women's cricket team made its debut in the Women's Cricket World Cup in 1978, which was hosted by India.

England scored a mammoth total of 279/3 in 60 overs with Enid Bakewell scoring 118 and captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint contributing 64. Australia struggled to chase the target and scored 187/9. Bakewell became the highest run scorer in the tournament. She scored 264 runs. Rosalind Heggs of England took the most wickets with 12.

2022 Women's World Cup Winner

Australia beat England by 71 runs to lift the ICC Women's World Cup 2022 trophy. This is the seventh World Cup title for Australia women. The Meg Lanning-led side had put up 356 runs on the scoreboard for the loss of 5 wickets while batting first and managed to get England all out for 285 runs despite Natalie Sciver's brave attempts to keep her side still in the game.

ICC Women's World Cup | Most Successful Teams

Australia is the most successful women's cricket team with seven titles. Australia has dominated women’s cricket like no other team, winning the most ICC trophies in history. With a staggering 7 titles in the Women’s ODI World Cup, the Australian Women’s team has set the benchmark for excellence on the global stage. 

Their closest competitor, England, has managed to secure four World Cups, a distant second that underscores Australia’s dominance.

• Australia (7 times): 1978, 1982, 1989, 1998, 2005, 2013, 2022
• England (4 times): 1973, 1993, 2009, 2017
• New Zealand (1 time): 2000

Also Read: Indian batters to score an international ton in all formats: Smriti Mandhana joins an elite list

ICC Women's World Cup | Past Winners