Federal Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal said he had been quoted out of context, and that he was joking when he made the remarks at a poetry meeting.
Mr Jaiswal said he did "not want to insult women", and he had no intention of hurting their feelings.
Women's groups have expressed outrage and said Mr Jaiswal's comments were "very unfortunate".
Mr Jaiswal made the remarks at a Hindi language poetry meeting in the northern city of Kanpur on Monday night.
He was referring to the Indian cricket team winning a game against Pakistan in the ongoing World T20 championship in Sri Lanka.
"New victory and new wedding, both of them have their own importance. As time will pass, the victory will become old," Mr Jaiswal was reported as telling the meeting.
"As time passes, wife also becomes old, that charm does not sustain".
After footage of Mr Jaiswal's comments was aired on TV channels, women's groups and opposition parties criticised the minister and demanded an apology.
The main opposition BJP said the minister had made a "sexist remark" and called him "insensitive".
The chairman of the National Commission for Women, Mamta Sharma, said the minister's comments were "very unfortunate".
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