India's Historic ICC Women's World Cup Victory Celebrated with ₹51 Crore Reward
BCCI Announces Cash Prize for Women's World Cup Champions
The Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Devjeet Saikia, has revealed a cash reward of ₹51 crores for the Indian women's cricket team following their triumph in the ICC Women's World Cup. This victory marks a significant milestone as the team overcame past disappointments from the finals in 2005 and 2017, defeating South Africa to secure their first World title in both ODI and T20 formats.
In a conversation with a news outlet, Saikia reflected on the legacy of Kapil Dev, who ushered in a new era of excitement in Indian cricket by winning the World Cup in 1983. He expressed pride in how the women's team has mirrored that enthusiasm, stating that Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad not only clinched the trophy but also captured the hearts of all Indians. He emphasized that they have paved the way for the next generation of female cricketers, noting that women's cricket has reached new heights, especially after their semi-final victory against Australia.
Significant Changes in Women's Cricket Under BCCI Leadership
Saikia further elaborated on the transformative changes implemented since Jay Shah took over the BCCI's leadership from 2019 to 2024, highlighting the focus on pay equity. Last month, ICC President Jay Shah announced a remarkable 300% increase in the prize money for women's tournaments, raising it from $2.88 million to $14 million. These initiatives have significantly boosted women's cricket, and the BCCI has also announced the ₹51 crore reward for the entire team, including players, coaches, and support staff.
Match Highlights: India vs South Africa
In the match itself, South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first. A century partnership between Smriti Mandhana (45 runs off 58 balls) and Shefali Verma set a strong foundation for India, followed by a 62-run partnership between Shefali (87 runs off 78 balls) and Jemimah Rodrigues (24 runs off 37 balls). India reached a commendable score of 166/2.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (20 runs off 29 balls) and Deepti Sharma added 52 runs to push India past the 200-run mark. Thanks to impressive innings from Deepti (58 runs off 58 balls) and Richa Ghosh (34 runs off 24 balls), India finished their innings at 298/7 in 50 overs.
South Africa's Response and Key Performers
Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler for South Africa, taking 3 wickets for 58 runs. In their chase, South Africa started with a partnership of 50 runs, with Tazmin Brits (23 runs off 35 balls) being the first wicket to fall. Despite a strong performance from captain Laura Wolvaardt, Shefali Verma (2 wickets for 36 runs) and Shree Chani's excellent bowling restricted South Africa to 148/5.
Wolvaardt managed to build pressure with a 61-run partnership with Anneke Dirkse (37 runs off 35 balls), but ultimately, India maintained control over the match.