The scenes at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday night felt almost unreal. Under the floodlights, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team stood arm in arm, with tears, sweat, and smiles. India had finally done it. A maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title after decades of chasing the dream.
Now, that history-making moment has been met with another landmark moment. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a staggering Rs 51 crore cash reward for the players, coaches, and support staff. It’s the largest single reward ever handed out in Indian women’s sporting history. Overall, the Indian women’s team will now get a total of Rs 90 crore if we also include the official prize money given by the ICC as well.
BCCI rewards Indian women’s team
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told ANI that the win marks a new chapter for Indian cricket. He called it the kind of moment that turns belief into movement, much like 1983 did for the men’s game. Saikia said the victory would drive a new generation of girls to dream of blue jerseys and full stadiums.
“In 1983, Kapil Dev brought about a new era and encouragement in cricket by making India win the World Cup. The same excitement and encouragement has been introduced by the women today. Harmanpreet Kaur and her team have not just won the trophy today; they have won the hearts of all Indians,” Saikia said.
He also praised Jay Shah, now ICC Chairman, for his push to bring women’s cricket on equal footing. Shah oversaw pay parity, boosted prize pools and expanded domestic opportunities. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) was part of that shift, giving India a stronger base than ever before.
“Since Jay Shah took charge of the BCCI, he has brought about many transformations in women’s cricket. Pay parity was addressed. Last month, ICC Chairman Jay Shah increased women’s prize money by 300 percent — from $2.88 million to $14 million. These steps have greatly promoted women’s cricket. BCCI has also announced a reward prize of Rs 51 crores for the entire team- players, coaches, and support staff,” he noted.
Along with BCCI’s reward, the World Cup winners will also get USD 4.48 million (around Rs 39.78 crore) from the ICC. It is the highest prize ever offered in women’s cricket. The total tournament purse stood at USD 13.88 million (Rs 123 crore), nearly triple what it was in 2022. That jump tells you where the game is headed.
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