India, Nov 3 : The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a cash reward of ₹51 crore for the Indian women’s cricket team following their historic triumph at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia made the announcement, lauding the team for ending India’s long wait for a world title. India defeated South Africa in a thrilling final at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, securing their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup crown and rewriting history.
“In 1983, Kapil Dev brought about a new era in Indian cricket by winning the World Cup. Today, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team have done the same for women’s cricket,” said Saikia. “They haven’t just lifted the trophy they’ve won the hearts of every Indian and inspired the next generation of cricketers.”
Saikia credited BCCI secretary Jay Shah’s leadership for ushering in transformative changes in women’s cricket, including pay parity and a 300% increase in ICC prize money. “Under Jay Shah, women’s cricket has reached new heights. The recent hike in ICC prize money from $2.88 million to $14 million shows how far the game has come,” he added.
The ₹51 crore reward will be distributed among players, coaches, and support staff in recognition of their contribution to the historic win.
In the final, India posted 298/7 after a solid start from Shafali Verma (87) and Smriti Mandhana (45), supported by Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance (58 runs and 5/39). South Africa’s chase faltered despite Laura Wolvaardt’s century (101), as India bowled them out for 246 to seal victory by 52 runs.
Deepti’s performance, including becoming the first Indian woman to take a five-wicket haul in a World Cup final, was pivotal in India’s maiden title win.
With this triumph, Team India not only ended decades of near misses but also set a new benchmark for women’s cricket, marking the beginning of a golden era for the sport in the country.