KOLKATA, India (Reuters) -The brand value of India's top women cricketers has gone through the roof following their fairytale World Cup triumph on home soil with top sports marketing experts calling it a "watershed moment" for the sport.

After a hat-trick of defeats nearly derailed their campaign, India stunned seven-times champions Australia in the semi-finals and outplayed South Africa in the November 2 final to claim their maiden 50-overs World Cup title.