BCCI Rewards Women's World Cup Champions with ₹51 Crore Prize
BCCI Announces ₹51 Crore Prize for Champions
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declared a cash reward of ₹51 crore for the Indian women's cricket team, who triumphed in the ICC Women's World Cup. This victory marks a significant milestone as the team overcame past disappointments from the 2005 and 2017 finals by defeating South Africa to claim their first world title in both ODI and T20I formats.
BCCI Secretary's Remarks
Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, expressed his thoughts, stating, "In 1983, Kapil Dev ushered in a new era for Indian cricket by winning the World Cup. Today, the women have brought the same level of excitement and inspiration. Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad have not only secured the trophy but also captured the hearts of the nation, paving the way for future generations of female cricketers. Our team's victory over Australia in the semifinals was a pivotal moment for women's cricket."
Transformations in Women's Cricket
Saikia highlighted the changes initiated by Jay Shah since he took over as BCCI secretary in 2019, including addressing pay equity. Recently, the ICC Chairman announced a 300% increase in women's prize money, raising it from $2.88 million to $14 million. These initiatives have significantly boosted women's cricket, culminating in the BCCI's announcement of a ₹51 crore reward for the entire team, including players, coaches, and support staff.
India vs South Africa: Match Highlights
In the final match, South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first.
India's Batting Performance
India's innings began with a solid century partnership between Smriti Mandhana (45 runs off 58 balls, including eight fours) and Shafali Verma. They were followed by a 62-run collaboration between Shafali (87 runs off 78 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Jemimah Rodrigues (24 runs off 37 balls, with one four). India set a strong foundation at 166/2. A partnership of 52 runs between captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20 runs off 29 balls, with two fours) and Deepti Sharma helped push India past the 200-run mark. A late surge from Deepti (58 runs off 58 balls, with three fours and one six) and Richa Ghosh (34 runs off 24 balls, with three fours and two sixes) propelled India to a total of 298/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 3 wickets for 58 runs.
South Africa's Chase and Deepti's Impactful Bowling
In their chase, South Africa started with a 50-run partnership, but Tazmin Brits (23 runs off 35 balls, with two fours and one six) was the first wicket to fall. Despite a strong performance from captain Laura Wolvaardt, who had a 61-run partnership with Annerie Dercksen (37 runs off 35 balls, with one four and two sixes), South Africa found themselves at 148/5 due to the effective bowling of Shafali Verma (2/36) and Shree Charani. Wolvaardt, who scored 101 runs off 98 balls (including 11 fours and one six), continued her excellent form after a previous 169 against England in the semifinals. However, Deepti Sharma's remarkable bowling spell turned the game, as she dismissed both set batters, leaving South Africa struggling at 221/8. Deepti became the first Indian woman to take four wickets in a World Cup final, finishing with figures of 5/39, leading India to their historic victory by bowling out South Africa for 246 runs.