Madhya Pradesh CM Rewards Kranti Gaud for Historic Women's World Cup Win
Historic Victory for Indian Women's Cricket Team
On Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh extended his congratulations to the Indian women's cricket team for their remarkable achievement in winning the ICC Women's World Cup for the first time. He announced a reward of Rs 1 Crore for Kranti Gaud, a player from Chhatarpur district, recognizing her role in the team's success.
The final match took place at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, where India successfully defended a target of 299 runs, defeating South Africa by 52 runs. Although Kranti did not take any wickets in the final, her contributions throughout the tournament were significant. The 22-year-old fast bowler was instrumental in India's campaign, taking nine wickets in eight matches with an average of 40.11, placing her 12th on the wicket-taking leaderboard.
Chief Minister's Praise for Kranti Gaud
"Last night, the daughters of our nation achieved greatness in cricket. I want to congratulate everyone, especially our daughter from MP, Kranti Gaud. The state government will reward her with Rs 1 Crore for her contributions to the team," stated the Chief Minister during a press briefing.
Key Performances in the Final
In the championship match, outstanding performances from Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma were pivotal in securing India's first ICC Women's World Cup title, overcoming South Africa in a decisive manner.
India's journey to the final included a stunning victory over seven-time champions Australia, where they chased down a record 339 runs, featuring a century from Jeminah Rodrigues and a stellar performance by Harmanpreet Kaur. The team, led by Harmanpreet, finally triumphed after previous disappointments in the finals of 2005 and 2017.
Final Match Highlights
During the chase of 299 runs, South Africa's opening duo, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, provided a solid foundation, focusing on rotating the strike and hitting occasional boundaries. Wolvaardt's aggressive play against Amanjot Kaur in the ninth over showcased their intent.
Despite a promising start, South Africa's innings faltered, culminating in a run-out of Ayabonga Khaka on the last ball, leaving them at 246/9 after 45 overs. Deepti Sharma capped off her remarkable performance by taking the final wicket of Nadine de Klerk, achieving a memorable five-wicket haul that secured the World Cup for India. For South Africa, Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 58 runs.