New Delhi, Nov. 10 -- Among those brought up on a diet of cricket, the cheers always rang out for the Men in Blue. And if we lost, it was always: "Boys played well." Until 2 November, that is, when Team India lifted its maiden Women's World Cup to celebrations of joy and pride.

For those managing India's star women cricketers, the phones haven't stopped ringing. JioHotstar, which streamed the final match, claimed 185 million cumulative viewers, equalling the viewership of last year's Men's T20 World Cup final. Brands are flocking to the Women in Blue, deals are being struck and, according to talent managers, some members of the winning squad have hiked their endorsement fees by 80-100%.

In the spotlight are star performers like Smriti M...