New Delhi, 3 November 2025: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declared a historic cash reward of ₹51 crore for the victorious Indian women’s cricket team after their maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 title. The announcement marks a major milestone in recognising the achievements of women’s sport in the country and signals a shift in how Indian women cricketers are valued.
Key Points
- BCCI confirms ₹51 crore for players, coaches and support staff after India’s first women’s World Cup triumph.
- The 2025 Women’s World Cup prize-pool from International Cricket Council (ICC) saw unprecedented growth—a key context to the reward.
- Despite the large sum, commentary notes the amount is still less than what male counterparts have received for comparable triumphs.
- The timing of the reward coincides with India’s elevation in the global women’s game and may spark broader investment in women’s cricket infrastructure in the country.
What happened
On 2 November 2025, the Indian women’s cricket team clinched their first ever ODI World Cup title at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai by defeating South Africa women’s national cricket team by 52 runs.
In response, the BCCI quickly moved to recognise the effort and achievement by announcing a ₹51 crore reward for the entire contingent — players, coaching staff and support system.
Key facts & data
- The prize pool for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup was raised to US $13.88 million ( ₹116 crore) and the winners’ share jumped by about 239 % compared to 2022.
- The BCCI reward of ₹51 crore covers not only the playing XI but coaches, selectors and support staff – reflecting a shift beyond just players.
- However, analysis points out that for the men’s team’s recent major win the BCCI offered a higher reward-indicating there is still a gap.
- Prior to the final, speculation circulated that the reward might be as high as ₹125 crore if India emerged victorious.
Statements or reactions
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia described the women’s win and subsequent reward announcement as “a signal of our commitment to women’s cricket in India”.
Former Indian captain Mithali Raj, whose era carried the weight of near-misses, called the win and the BCCI’s response “proof that perseverance pays” and that a “new benchmark is being set”. (As cited in Reuters coverage).
Sports commentators highlighted how the reward positions Indian women cricketers as true professionals rather than part-time athletes – a change in mindset and industry structure.
Current status / What’s next
With the reward announced, attention now turns to how the funds will be distributed, details of which are yet to be publicly released. The team’s return-home celebrations, possible parades and government felicitations are still under discussion; as of now no formal parade has been scheduled.
Longer term, this move places pressure on the BCCI and state boards to commit more resources to women’s domestic structures, league development and grassroots talent. The question remains: will this windfall translate into sustained investment and not just a one-off reward?
Meanwhile, players will also face heightened expectations – now being seen as “crorepatis” and role-models – which could influence future contracts, endorsement deals and commercialisation of the women’s game.
Context / Background: Why this event matters
The cash reward comes at a juncture when women’s cricket globally is undergoing rapid change. The ICC’s decision to raise the prize pool ahead of the 2025 tournament sent a strong message about pay parity and gender equity in sport. For India, a country where women’s cricket has traditionally held second-tier status, the Rs 51 crore announcement is a tangible sign of shift in recognition, value and commercial viability.
Historically, Indian women cricketers earned considerably less, had fewer opportunities, and their achievements – even when significant – did not translate to equivalent rewards. This move changes that premise and can trigger structural change.
In broader societal terms, such a reward boosts the visibility of women’s sport, encourages emerging talent, and signals to sponsors, broadcasters and administrators that investing in women’s cricket is financially credible.
Finally, the comparison with men’s rewards -and the visible gap – adds pressure for systemic change beyond just one tournament win. The broader test will be whether funds are reinvested, infrastructure improved and a sustainable model emerges rather than a celebratory spike.
