For the first time in history, India’s women cricketers have lifted the ICC World Cup trophy, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final that ended decades of waiting and heartbreaks from 2005 to 2017. This moment marks a turning point not only in Indian cricket but also in the global rise of women’s sports.
To honor this remarkable victory, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced a cash reward of ₹51 crore for the entire team, including players, coaches and support staff. The announcement was made by the BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia who praised the players for their dedication and resilience.
Devajit Saikia highlighted the transformative steps taken under Jay Shah’s leadership since 2019. During his tenure, women’s cricket has seen sweeping changes, from achieving pay parity with male players to a massive boost in prize money at the international level. Jay Shah who also serves as the ICC Chairman increased the women’s World Cup prize pool manifold, from $2.88 million to an impressive $14 million.
Thanks to these changes, India received $4.48 million (about ₹40 crore) from the ICC for their victory, a dramatic jump from the $1.32 million (around ₹12 crore) that Australia earned for winning three years ago. South Africa, the runners-up, received $2.24 million (around ₹20 crore), while the semifinalists each took home $1.12 million (approximately ₹10 crore), a massive improvement from the earlier $300,000 (around ₹2.7 crore) prize in 2022.
Overall, the total prize pool for the tournament was $13.88 million (₹123 crore), almost four times the previous edition in 2022, and even higher than the $10 million (₹89 crore) prize offered in the 2023 Men’s World Cup.
Reflecting on the magnitude of the win, Devajit Saikia drew a powerful comparison with India’s 1983 World Cup victory under Kapil Dev. He said that just as that historic moment changed Indian cricket forever, this triumph by Harmanpreet Kaur and her team has done the same for women’s cricket. He said that beyond the trophy, the team has captured the hearts of millions and inspired a new generation of girls to dream big.
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The Indian women’s team not only conquered the world but also redefined what is possible, proving that the spirit of cricket knows no boundaries and victory tastes even sweeter when it’s earned through years of perseverance and belief.
Congratulations to the Indian women’s cricket team.
