Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma Among Celebrities Who Lit Up Women’s World Cup Final

Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma, alongside ICC Chairman Jay Shah, led a galaxy of luminaries at DY Patil Stadium on November 2, 2025, as India clashed with South Africa in the ICC Women’s World Cup final—only the third time the hosts had reached this stage. A sell-out crowd of over 30,000 defied early-afternoon showers to flood the stands, their chants blending with the roar of fireworks and the national anthem sung by Bollywood star Sunidhi Chauhan. The match, delayed two hours by rain but played in full, became a celebration of women’s cricket’s ascent in India.

Tendulkar, ever the purist, watched transfixed from the VIP box as Shafali Verma blazed 87 and Deepti Sharma anchored the middle order to propel India to 298 for 7. Rohit Sharma—fresh from a century in Australia despite India’s ODI series loss—sat with wife Ritika Sajdeh, occasionally leaning in to discuss tactics with Jay Shah and Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani. Sunil Gavaskar, VVS Laxman, and former selector Brijesh Patel completed a pantheon of Indian batting royalty, their presence a quiet tribute to the sport’s evolving legacy.

The atmosphere crackled with anticipation and nostalgia. Broadcasters repeatedly cut to Tendulkar’s reactions, while Rohit’s animated gestures with Shah hinted at post-match strategy sessions. Between innings, Chauhan returned for a high-energy performance under a canopy of lights, momentarily lifting spirits above the damp outfield. For many in the stands, this was more than a final—it was validation of two decades of investment in women’s cricket since the BCCI took the team under its wing in 2006.

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On the field, India delivered. Deepti’s spellbinding 5 for 39 dismantled South Africa for 246, clinching a 52-run victory and the maiden World Cup title just past midnight. As Harmanpreet Kaur lifted the trophy, she first passed it to retiring icons Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami—an emotional handover that left the stadium in tears. The dignitaries rose in unison, Tendulkar clapping slowly, Rohit pumping his fist, and Shah beaming with pride.

The night belonged to the players, but the stars in the stands amplified its resonance. Their attendance signalled that women’s cricket had arrived—not as a sideshow, but as the main event. As fireworks painted the Navi Mumbai sky and “Vande Mataram” echoed through the stands, India didn’t just win a trophy; it claimed its future.

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